• North Korean troops returned after a 120-day mine clearance mission in Russia's Kursk region.
• Kim Jong Un praised the soldiers for their "mass heroism" and awarded state honors to nine fallen troops.
• The regiment's achievements included transforming dangerous areas into safe zones in under three months.
• Kim emphasized the ideological commitment and unity of the soldiers during their deployment.
• North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a ceremony welcoming home the 528th Regiment of Engineers, which recently returned from a mine clearance mission in Russia's Kursk region. During their 120-day deployment, these soldiers performed "heroic" tasks amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict involving Russian forces, fulfilling the directives of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

During the welcoming ceremony held in Pyongyang, Kim praised the regiment’s conduct, noting their performance in harsh combat conditions, where they cleared mines and transformed dangerous zones into safe areas. He expressed admiration for the soldiers' unity and discipline and their ability to perform under extreme stress, as stated by Channel News Asia and Anadolu Agency.

Kim highlighted the tragic loss of nine soldiers during the mission, calling their deaths a "heart-rending loss" and announcing that they would receive the title of Hero of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea along with state honors. He lauded the regiment's collective achievement, which he described as a "miracle" given the timeline for mine clearance, which was initially deemed impractical in such a short time frame, according to Al Jazeera and The Jakarta Post.

This public tribute underscores North Korea’s ongoing commitment to support Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Analysts suggest that this military cooperation includes financial and technological exchanges, with North Korea providing troop support in exchange for aid benefiting its strategically isolated regime, as reported by South China Morning Post and Reuters.