Overview

• Defense Minister No Kwang-chol pledged North Korea's full support for Russia's defense of sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests, according to Ria Novosti.
• No and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov unveiled a sculpture honoring North Korean fighters from World War II and laid flowers at Alexander Garden near the Kremlin.
• Belousov described the monument as a symbol of an unbreakable bond and a tribute to wartime generations, emphasizing the preservation of historical memory.
• KCNA later quoted No saying the two countries are closely united in bloody battles against a common enemy and called for stronger militant friendship and solidarity.
• North Korean media initially did not disclose No's trip to Russia, and a South Korean unification ministry official suggested the secrecy may relate to military cooperation issues.