This article originally appeared on Radio Free Asia.
North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian troops against Ukraine marched through Kim Il Sung Square on Friday, carrying the flags of Russia and North Korea as part of the Workers’ Party 80th Anniversary celebrations.
The soldiers marched to the Russian patriotic song “To Serve Russia,” a rare and symbolic display of solidarity between Pyongyang and Moscow.
According to estimates, around 2,000 North Korean soldiers were killed while supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
And reports say that under a new deployment plan, North Korea recently sent another 1,000 combat engineers to Russia.
Although the event marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party, it was also a display of military cooperation between the two countries.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, attended the celebrations in Pyongyang.
He thanked North Korea for what he called its “steadfast support” for Russia’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine.
At Pyongyang’s May Day stadium, Russian singer Shaman performed a tribute to the soldiers who fought in Kursk.
Kim Jong Un and the audience rose from their seats to honor the soldiers.
The parade highlighted the partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.
As the song “To Serve Russia” played across the square, the message was clear: an old alliance is being reshaped for today.
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