Pyongyang confirms North Korean troops fighting in Russia’s Kursk

North Korea finally confirmed Monday that it had sent troops to fight in Russia’s Kursk area, after the Kremlin broke its silence on the issue on Saturday.

The belated confirmation of a mission that has been tracked by Kyiv, Seoul and Washington since October 2023 comes as combat operations in Russia’s Kursk Oblast appear to have almost wrapped up.

It also comes before one of the biggest dates on Russia’s annual calendar: the May 9 “Victory Day” celebrations, which this year mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.