North Korea–Russia military pact: troops in Kursk, a memorial in Pyongyang, a march on Red Square

The article that started it

2304 mien na korejskej stene a pochod na Červenom námestí. KĽDR-ruský pakt sa konsoliduje pred očami sveta

BBC odhalila 2 304 mien na pchjongjangských pamätných stenách padlých v Kursku. Severokórejskí vojaci v ten deň prvý raz pochodovali pred Putinom.

9.5.2026

What we are still watching

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  The real scale of losses in Kursk — whether further satellite imagery or leaked North Korean lists confirm the BBC's estimate of 2,304 names, or move the figure closer to September's NIS estimate (2,000 dead and 2,700 wounded) or the 6,000 from February
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  Another rotation in Kursk or other fronts — whether South Korea's NIS confirms the new deployment Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about in April, and whether North Korean troops appear near Sumy or Vovchansk
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  Military technology transfer from Moscow to Pyongyang — specific deliveries in satellite navigation, ballistics and aviation systems, which South Korean intelligence calls the most sensitive
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  NPT exit — through its UN mission North Korea declared it is no longer bound by the Non-Proliferation Treaty. We are tracking the next steps and the IAEA's response
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  The Tumangan–Khasan bridge — BBC satellite images from May 7 suggest the new rail bridge between North Korea and Russia's Primorsky Krai is nearly finished. We are tracking the completion date and the logistical impact
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  Decorations awarded by Putin to North Korean generals — NK News reported on May 5 that Putin secretly awarded an order. We are tracking public confirmation or photographic evidence
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  The EU's stance on the North Korea–Russia pact — whether the topic makes it into Brussels's next sanctions package and what position the Slovak and Czech governments take

What has happened

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  Xi Jinping visits North Korea (a Yonhap signal on May 21) — the first international guest after Putin's May 9 visit, signalling the sharpness of the Chinese-North Korean axis against American pressure in the Pacific Jonhap (juhokórejská tlačovka) 21.5. ráno: Si Ťin-pching mohol navštíviť KĽDR koncom mája 2026. Pokrýtie teraz.sk #927822, aktuality.sk #928178, svet.sme.sk #928154. Trianglom Rusko-Čína-KĽDR signál pre Washington. → Jonhap: Si Ťin-pching by mohol navštíviť KĽDR už koncom mája 21.5.2026
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  Trump is scaling back joint exercises with South Korea — citing his relationship with Kim Jong-un, even as commanders warn that the war in Ukraine is strengthening North Korea's combat capabilities The Guardian 17.8.2026 — priama väzba na premisu followupu: nasadenie v Kursku ako bojový výcvik severokórejských jednotiek. → Trump orders cuts to South Korea joint drills despite warnings of North’s growing battlefield experience (The Guardian) 17.8.2026
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  Kim Yo-jong denied any recent contacts between Kim Jong-un and Trump; North Korea also rejected Trump's rapprochement at South Korea's expense (August 19, 2026) Nadväzuje na #1047 (Trump obmedzuje cvičenia s Južnou Kóreou s odvolaním na vzťah s Kimom) — Pchjongjang ten vzťah verejne spochybnil → Kim Jo-čong nevie o nedávnych kontaktoch medzi vodcom KĽDR a Trumpom 19.8.2026