Kim Jong Un praises North Korean troops in ‘military operations abroad’

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised soldiers participating in ‘military operations abroad’ during a speech marking the 78th anniversary of the state's founding. The comments are widely interpreted as a reference to North Korean troops deployed to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Western and South Korean intelligence assessments indicate that North Korea has sent between 14,000 and 15,000 personnel to fight alongside Russian forces since late 2024. Reports from South Korea's National Intelligence Service suggest that approximately 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded as of February 2026.

In exchange for military personnel and munitions, Pyongyang is reportedly receiving economic and military-technical assistance from Russia. While South Korean defense officials noted in late August that preparations for further troop deployments continue, they indicated no immediate deployment was imminent at that time.