**North Korea and Russia Reinforce Ties with Joint Military Operations in Ukraine**

Kim Jong-un praises fallen soldiers while Putin expresses gratitude for their contributions.

In a breaking development in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has confirmed that troops from his country are engaged in military operations alongside Russian forces. This collaboration marks the first official acknowledgement of North Korean military involvement, amid previous murmurs of conspiring forces between the two nations.

Kim Jong-un stated that the decision to deploy troops was made to fortify the military alliance with Russia, dubbing the soldiers as “heroic” for their bravery on the battlefield. The leader has called for the construction of a monument to honor the special forces who have lost their lives during these operations, signifying a palpable sense of duty and sacrifice.

On the other side, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his unwavering reverence for the contributions made by North Korean soldiers in the conflict. In a statement released by the Kremlin, he affirmed that the "Russian people will never forget" the valiant efforts of these troops, who fought alongside their Russian comrades in what they term a joint struggle for liberation.

Prior to these declarations, the military alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow had been largely unspoken, despite intelligence reports estimating that up to 4,000 North Korean troops have either died or been wounded since their deployment began. Reports indicate that North Korea has sent approximately 14,000 troops to aid Russia, which have included supply chains of artillery shells as well as ballistic missiles utilized in operations against Ukrainian cities.

This collaboration serves to deepen the military ties between the two nations at a critical juncture in the ongoing geopolitical turbulence, with analysts noting the implications this could have for the balance of power in the region.