The Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea highly appreciated the combat sub-units of the armed forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for performing heroic feats in the operations to repulse and frustrate the grave sovereignty infringement by the Ukrainian authorities, who invaded the territory of the Russian Federation, and completely liberate the occupied area of Kursk Region.

The WPK Central Military Commission clarified as follows in its written stand sent to Rodong Sinmun and the Korean Central News Agency on April 27:

The operations for liberating the Kursk area to repel the adventurous invasion of the Russian Federation by the Ukrainian authorities were victoriously concluded.

The sub-units of our armed forces, which participated in the operations for liberating the Kursk area according to the order of the head of state of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, fully demonstrated their high fighting spirit and military temperament and made an important contribution to annihilating the Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces and liberating the territory of the Russian Federation by displaying mass heroism, matchless bravery and self-sacrificing spirit.

It is a source of pride for our state and a greatest dignity for our people to have such excellent soldiers.

The victorious conclusion of the operations for liberating the Kursk area is a victory of justice over injustice and, at the same time, a new chapter of history which demonstrated the highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship between the DPRK and Russia and the alliance and fraternal relations between the peoples of the two countries.

Thanks to the precious victory won by the armies of the DPRK and Russia while shedding blood fighting in the same trench shoulder to shoulder, the occupation of the Kursk area by the Ukrainian army for nearly nine months came to an end and the adventurous political and military attempt of the Western forces and the Ukrainian authorities to thwart the special military operations of Russia was frustrated.

The Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea extends the warmest and most ardent congratulations to the commanding officers of the special operations group and all officers, noncommissioned officers and soldiers of the combat sub-units, who, participating in the operations for liberating the Kursk area, defended the precious honour of our army and performed immortal feats to be recorded in golden letters in the history of the development of the DPRK-Russia relations.

The Ukrainian authorities, coming forward as the vanguard and shock brigade of the imperialist powers in an attempt to inflict strategic defeat on Russia, launched a vigorous surprise attack on the Russian mainland in August 2024 by enlisting tens of thousands of elite troops armed with the Western-made state-of-the-art weapons and other combat and technical equipment with a sinister intention to reverse the war situation, in which they were thrown into tailspin, and thus occupied an area of over 1 200 square kilometres in Kursk Region, turning many residential districts into ruins and mercilessly killing many peaceful inhabitants.

The reckless military moves of the hostile forces that violently infringed upon the national sovereignty and security of Russia, the fraternal country, constituted a threat to the accomplishment of the common cause of the DPRK and Russia for realizing international justice and defending global peace against the imperialist high-handed and arbitrary practices and a grave challenge to the militant friendship and unity between the armies and peoples of the two countries.

On the basis of the analysis and judgment that the prevailing situation conformed to the invocation of Article 4 of the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership concluded between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation, Comrade Kim Jong Un decided on our armed forces’ participation in the war, informed the Russian side of it and, in accordance with agreement, issued an order of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea to combat sub-units of the armed forces of the Republic to annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces.

While making the decision on making the combat sub-units of our armed forces participate in the war, Comrade Kim Jong Un defined it as a sacred mission for further consolidating as firm as a rock the traditional friendship and solidarity between the DPRK and Russia, guaranteeing the development and prosperity of the two countries and defending the honour of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The military activities of the armed forces of the Republic conducted within the territory of the Russian Federation fully conform to all the provisions and the spirit of the UN Charter and other international laws and the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between the DPRK and Russia and serve as a good example and excellent paradigm of the most faithful expression of action to implement them.

Under the order of the head of state, the sub-units of the armed forces of the Republic regarded the territory of Russia as the one of their own country and proved the firm alliance between the DPRK and Russia and recorded legendary tales of military feats with their high will of defence, do-or-die spirit and practical combat actions accompanied by sacrifice.

On the occasion of the liberation of Kursk, Comrade Kim Jong Un specially stressed the following:

“They, who fought for justice, are all heroes who represent the honour of their motherland.

“In commemoration of the heroism and bravery displayed by the proud sons of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, a monument to their battle feats will soon be erected in our capital city, and before the tombstones of the fallen soldiers, flowers will be laid as a token of the motherland and the people praying for their immortality.

“The fighting spirit and heroism of the soldiers, who demonstrated the great name of the powerful and the glory of the victors, will shine for ever on the high platform of respect and honour generation after generation.

“The motherland should hand down for ever the soul of the soldiers who fought to defend its great honour, and take important state measures to specially and preferentially treat and take care of the families of the brave soldiers who participated in the war.”

The head of state of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea said that he extends warm militant greetings to the Russian army and people who won a great victory.

The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea regards it as an honour to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation and is pleased that the participation of the sub-units of our armed forces in the war has further strengthened the militant ties between the two countries and contributed to Russia’s conducting of special military operations.

The Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea is convinced that the invincible militant friendship between the two countries, verified at the cost of blood in the flames of battles, will greatly contribute to expanding and developing the future relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Russia in all aspects, and affirms, on the authorization of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, that it will invariably and fully support the sacred cause of the Russian army and people in the future, too, and remain faithful as ever to any action based on the spirit of the DPRK-Russia treaty.