Pyongyang: A Russian delegation led by Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, has arrived in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. They are there to attend a ceremony for the opening of a memorial museum dedicated to soldiers who died fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war, as reported by the state news agency KCNA.

According to Anadolu Agency, the delegation was greeted upon arrival by Jo Yong-won, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly. The Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations is set to open in Pyongyang, marking another step in the evolving relationship between the two nations.

During the visit, Jo Yong-won and Vyacheslav Volodin held discussions aimed at enhancing parliamentary exchanges and bilateral cooperation. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to implementing agreements established by their respective heads of state. This meeting underscores the strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea, which have developed a comprehensive strategic partnership over the past decade, formalized by a treaty in 2024.

The two countries have also pledged mutual military support in the event of an attack by a third party. In August 2025, North Korea sent approximately 1,000 military engineers to Russia's Kursk region to aid in clearing land mines, following previous dispatches of an estimated 15,000 combat troops in support of Russia's war efforts. According to South Korea's spy agency, North Korea suffered significant losses, with around 2,000 troops killed in the conflict.