From Denial To Display: North Korea Glorifies Fight Against Ukraine
- By RFE/RL
An art exhibition in Moscow has showcased North Koreans fighting Ukrainian troops, a facet of the Russian invasion which the Kremlin once dismissed as "fake news."
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A canvas titled Giving My Priceless Life at an exhibition of North Korean art in Moscow on October 8.
This painting is one of several in the exhibition depicting North Korean soldiers who were brought in to fight against Ukrainian troops in Russia's war with Kyiv.
This painting is one of several in the exhibition depicting North Korean soldiers who were brought in to fight against Ukrainian troops in Russia's war with Kyiv.
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A painting of North Korean and Russian troops titled In The Same Trench.
The propaganda exhibition, titled The Country Of A Great People, showcases North Korea in Moscow’s All-Russian Museum of Decorative Art.
The propaganda exhibition, titled The Country Of A Great People, showcases North Korea in Moscow’s All-Russian Museum of Decorative Art.
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A painting titled Delight At Great Luck.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang initially denied South Korean intelligence reports that emerged in October 2024 claiming North Korean troops were fighting alongside Russians. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports at the time as "yet another fake news story."
Both Moscow and Pyongyang initially denied South Korean intelligence reports that emerged in October 2024 claiming North Korean troops were fighting alongside Russians. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports at the time as "yet another fake news story."
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A painting titled For The Combat Comrade.
Amid mounting evidence, Moscow acknowledged in April that North Koreans had fought in Russia’s Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion into the territory.
Amid mounting evidence, Moscow acknowledged in April that North Koreans had fought in Russia’s Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion into the territory.
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North Korean tourists walk past a painting titled Heroic Fighters For The Dignity And Honor Of The Motherland. The cupolas of what appears to be an Orthodox church are visible at top left.
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A photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un at the exhibition.
Since the admission that North Koreans fought alongside Russian troops, the cooperation has become a propaganda focal point for Pyongyang.
Since the admission that North Koreans fought alongside Russian troops, the cooperation has become a propaganda focal point for Pyongyang.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a memorial wall in Pyongyang to 101 soldiers who died fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. The photo was released in August.
South Korea has claimed around 2,000 North Korean soldiers died fighting in Kursk, citing intelligence reports.
South Korea has claimed around 2,000 North Korean soldiers died fighting in Kursk, citing intelligence reports.
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A painting titled Our Strength, The Padasuri 6 Missile at the Moscow exhibition.
Along with paintings depicting warfare in Kursk, the exhibition of 123 paintings also showcases landscapes, North Korean military equipment, and idealized daily life in the ruthlessly authoritarian country.
Along with paintings depicting warfare in Kursk, the exhibition of 123 paintings also showcases landscapes, North Korean military equipment, and idealized daily life in the ruthlessly authoritarian country.
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Visitors at the exhibition in Moscow.
Russian reactions to the art display have been mixed, with one person subtly criticizing the boastful nature of the paintings. Another young visitor told a reporter he expected the Moscow-Pyongyang alliance would be short-lived and endure “only for the time of the war in Ukraine.”
Russian reactions to the art display have been mixed, with one person subtly criticizing the boastful nature of the paintings. Another young visitor told a reporter he expected the Moscow-Pyongyang alliance would be short-lived and endure “only for the time of the war in Ukraine.”
