![Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un pose for a photo during a signing ceremony of a new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024. [REUTERS]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/202406-KimJongun-Putin.jpg)
A North Korea military delegation has traveled to Russia just one day after Pyongyang officially confirmed the deployment of troops to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, according to state media.
The delegation, led by Pak Young-il, deputy director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, departed Pyongyang on April 28 to attend an international antifascism event in Russia, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on April 29.
Timing Coincides with Russian Victory Day
Although the KCNA dispatch offered no further details, the trip comes ahead of Russia’s 80th Victory Day celebrations on May 9, marking the end of World War II in Europe.
The visit follows an invitation extended last year by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a summit in Pyongyang. Speculation has grown over whether Kim might attend the commemorations in person.
Troop Deployment Publicly Confirmed
On April 28, North Korea publicly acknowledged for the first time that it had sent troops to Kursk, Russia, to assist in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. On the same day, Putin issued a statement expressing gratitude to Kim Jong-un for the deployment.
In a separate announcement, the Russian president declared a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with Victory Day commemorations.
The delegation’s visit and Pyongyang’s rare public confirmation of military cooperation with Moscow signal deepening ties between the two countries amid ongoing global tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine.
BY MOOYOUNG LEE [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]
