North Korean soldiers, having aided Russia in repelling a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region, are now engaged in extensive de-mining operations there, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
The troops are addressing a high density of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines left by Ukrainian forces, many manufactured by NATO countries.
Video footage released by the ministry depicts the soldiers undergoing training on mine detection equipment and handling various explosive devices.
North Korean engineers arrived experienced from missions in their homeland and received additional instruction from Russian forces on NATO and Ukrainian mines, as well as drone countermeasures.
They utilize Russian robotic de-mining platforms such as the Stalker and Uran-6.
Operations begin with veneration of the North Korean flag, signaling readiness to follow orders from leader Kim Jong Un.
Russian commanders described the troops positively, with one noting they learn quickly and another stating they perform on equal level with Russian sappers.
The sappers face ongoing attacks from Ukrainian artillery and drones during their work.
Under a mutual defence pact, North Korea sent approximately 14,000 soldiers to Kursk last year, with South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western sources reporting over 6,000 killed, though figures remain unverified.
President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed up to 12,000 North Koreans were deployed, with losses exceeding 4,000, two-thirds fatal, also unconfirmed.
Ukrainian forces entered Kursk in August 2024, holding territory for months until Russian President Vladimir Putin announced their expulsion in April, crediting North Korean assistance.
In the Bolshesoldatsky district, 37 of 64 settlements remain inaccessible to civilians due to mine dangers.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed gratitude for the North Korean assistance, calling it selfless and heroic, while Kim Jong Un stated military ties would advance non-stop.