What stood out instead during the 45-minute spectacle was the march of North Korean servicemen fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.
The message came across clear.
The spectacle was intended to “show off the military alliance relationship between North Korea and Russia at home and abroad,” said Yoon Min Ho, spokesman for Seoul’s Unification Ministry.
The parade, commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, was held under heavy security amid concerns over possible Ukrainian attacks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used the occasion to draw parallels between the sacrifices of the 1940s and Russia’s current war in Ukraine. The legacy of the wartime generation inspired Russian soldiers in the “special military operation,” he said.
This year’s event was notably more restrained than previous years. Instead of the customary display of missiles and armored vehicles, spectators were shown video presentations highlighting Russia’s drone capabilities and nuclear arsenal.
A column of North Korean soldiers marched across Red Square as Pyongyang and Moscow deepen military cooperation. North Korean troops have reportedly been deployed alongside Russian forces, particularly in Russia’s Kursk region.
The ceremony lasted about 45 minutes, roughly half the length of past Victory Day events. Russian authorities acknowledged tightened security measures were intended to protect Putin amid fears of possible Ukrainian strikes on Moscow.
In a congratulatory message to Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emphasized the countries’ “comprehensive strategic partnership.”
An estimated 14,000 North Koreans have been dispatched to the frontlines of Russia since October 2024, with 2,251 presumed to be killed.
According to the newspaper, a combined column of the Korean People’s Army’s ground, naval and air forces was led by Army Col. Choe Yong-hun.
“It was a display to the world of the closeness of North Korea-Russia relations at a time when North Korean troops are participating in the Ukraine war and fighting Ukrainian forces in Kursk,” said Kim Yong-hyun, professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University.
Kim said deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow could also encourage China to move closer to North Korea.
He added that relations between Pyongyang and Moscow were likely to remain close for a considerable period because a quick end to the war appeared unlikely.
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