North Korean soldiers participating in Russia's Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on the 9th. [EPA Yonhap News]

It has been confirmed that a North Korean military unit participated for the first time in Russia's Victory Day (May 9th) military parade, commemorating victory in World War II.

Russia's state-run TASS news agency posted a video of the North Korean military unit's parade on social media on the 9th.

North Korean soldiers marching in Russia's Victory Day military parade [Captured from TASS social media]

The video showed North Korean soldiers in uniform, carrying rifles, marching in formation. A flag bearer stood at the front, holding the North Korean flag and a banner commemorating Russia's Victory Day.

When the North Korean military appeared in Moscow's Red Square, North Korean Ambassador to Russia Shin Hong-chol and others in the viewing area applauded and welcomed them.

TASS reported via social media that this was the first time North Korean soldiers had marched alongside in Russia's Victory Day military parade.

 Russian and North Korean soldiers participating side-by-side in Russia's Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on the 9th. [EPA Yonhap News]

Foreign media also prominently reported on the North Korean military's unprecedented march in Russia's Victory Day parade.

Reuters and AP reported that the North Korean soldiers who marched in Red Square belonged to a unit that participated alongside Russian forces in Russia's Kursk region. They analyzed that this parade participation symbolized "a gesture of goodwill towards North Korea" for providing troops to the war with Ukraine.

Kursk is a region in southwestern Russia bordering Ukraine, and parts of it were occupied by Ukrainian forces in August 2024.

North Korea's deployment of troops made a decisive contribution to Russia's recapture of Kursk, and Russia officially declared the recovery of Kursk's territory on April 26th of last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly awarded medals to the commanders of the North Korean forces who participated in the battle for Kursk late last year.

 North Korean soldiers participating in Russia's Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on the 9th. [AP Yonhap News]

Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the Russian State Duma, told TASS that "the march of the North Korean military in the parade signifies the strategic partnership and allied relations between the two countries."

He emphasized, "North Korean soldiers fought bravely and dedicatedly alongside our soldiers to liberate the Kursk region of Russia. This is true camaraderie."

 Russian and North Korean soldiers participating side-by-side in Russia's Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on the 9th. [EPA Yonhap News]

According to NK News, a U.S.-based North Korea-focused media outlet, the number of North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia and participating in the Ukraine war was approximately 9,500 as of early this year. North Korea signed a 'Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' with Russia in June 2024 and has been deploying soldiers to Russia since October of the same year.

 North Korean soldiers marching in Russia's Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on the 9th. [EPA Yonhap News]

Last year, North Korea sent a delegation of five military officials, including Vice Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army Kim Yong-bok, to Russia's Victory Day celebration, but no military units directly participated in the parade.

On the 9th, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to President Putin on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of Russia's Victory Day, emphasizing the alliance between the two countries.

North Korean Ambassador to Russia Shin Hong-chol (left) watching the North Korean military parade at Russia's Victory Day [Captured from TASS social media]