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Kim Jong-un Reviews Giant Sculptures for Ukraine War Memorial Museum

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Inspection of Oversized Combat Sculptures at Mansudae Studio Kim visited the state‑run Mansudae Art Studio on Jan 25, 2026 and examined two‑ to three‑times life‑size sculptures intended for the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats, which honor North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine. He praised the pieces for “legendary feats and glorious life,” demanding meticulous detail so visitors can feel the soldiers’ faith in victory. KCNA photos released with the visit show the massive combat‑scene figures in full gear, underscoring the regime’s heroic narrative [1].

Memorial Construction Progress and Symbolic Features Construction of the overseas soldiers memorial began in October 2025 and will include a tower, decorative engravings on the outer wall, and a commemorative garden. Earlier in January 2026 Kim turned the first shovelful of earth during a tree‑planting ceremony, marking the project’s ceremonial launch. The museum will be North Korea’s first dedicated to troops killed abroad, signaling a new focus on overseas military sacrifice [1].

Scale of North Korean Deployment and Casualties North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. The regime estimates thousands of those soldiers have been killed, prompting the memorial’s purpose to honor the “admirable sons of the DPRK.” Official statements frame the fallen as defenders of honor, reinforcing the propaganda value of the project [1].

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Timeline

Jun 2024 – North Korea and Russia sign a mutual‑defense treaty, establishing a formal framework that obliges Pyongyang to provide military assistance to Moscow in exchange for security guarantees [5][6].

Aug 2025 – The 528th Regiment of Engineers departs for Russia’s Kursk region, joining roughly 1,000 engineer troops sent to clear Ukrainian‑laid mines and supporting a broader deployment of about 15,000 combat troops that North Korea has already dispatched to aid Russia [5][6].

Oct 2025 – Construction begins on the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations in Pyongyang, the first North Korean museum dedicated to soldiers killed abroad; the project follows an August decision to create a commemorative street for the fallen [3][4].

Dec 12, 2025 – Pyongyang holds a welcoming ceremony for the returning 528th Regiment; Kim Jong‑un honors the unit with the Order of Freedom and Independence, posthumously awards the title of DPRK Hero to nine killed soldiers, and declares their mine‑clearance work a “miracle” that Western forces cannot match [5][6].

Dec 13, 2025 – Kim Jong‑un again greets the regiment, praising its “heroic” conduct, awarding the Order of Freedom and Independence, and describing the nine casualties as a “heartrending loss”; the ceremony underscores loyalty, unity, and the strategic value of the mutual‑defense pact that sent some 14,000 troops to Russia, of whom over 6,000 are reported killed [1].

Jan 5, 2026 – Kim Jong‑un inspects the museum construction site, drives a forklift, and takes the first shovelful of earth for a tree‑planting ceremony; he tells reporters that the soldiers’ sacrifice “will serve as the solid root and eternal cornerstone supporting the mightiness of the motherly DPRK” [3][4].

Jan 5, 2026 – First Lady Ri Sol‑ju and daughter Ju‑a‑e accompany Kim at the tree‑planting, with Ju‑a‑e physically digging alongside her father, highlighting the ruling family’s public endorsement of the memorial project [3][4].

Jan 25, 2026 – Kim Jong‑un visits the Mansudae Art Studio to inspect oversized combat‑scene sculptures for the upcoming museum; he says the works will “convey forever the legendary feats and glorious life of admirable sons of the DPRK, the defenders of honor” and stresses the need for “high artistic portrayal and delicate perfection” [2].

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