Russian defence minister Andrey Belousov and State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin visited Pyongyang to attend the inauguration of a memorial to North Korean troops who died fighting in Ukraine. The event marked a formal recognition of North Korean military involvement in the conflict against Ukraine.
A new defence cooperation agreement was negotiated during the visit, set to run until 2031. The agreement follows a prior mutual defence deal signed in 2024 between Russia and North Korea.
North Korea has contributed military support to Russia, including operations near the Kursk region. The Kremlin acknowledged this support, with President Putin sending a telegram to Kim Jong Un to mark the memorial's opening.