North Korean state media reported that Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has inspected sculptures and artworks currently under creation, intended for a memorial museum honoring North Korean soldiers who died fighting in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The works are said to convey the "legendary heroism and honorable lives" of those soldiers.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong Un visited the Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang earlier this January to review several sculptures and artworks. These pieces will be installed in a memorial museum commemorating military operations abroad, including a memorial tower and low-relief sculptures decorating the outer walls.
North Korea began constructing this museum last October to honor the younger generation of soldiers who died fighting alongside Russia in the Ukraine war. It is the country’s first memorial dedicated to soldiers who lost their lives during overseas military operations. Earlier this month, Kim Jong Un inspected the construction site and participated in the initial soil-turning ceremony for planting trees within the museum grounds.
Reports indicate that North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 soldiers, fully armed according to standard formations, to support Russia's military operations. It is believed that several thousand North Korean soldiers have died in combat.
KCNA quoted Kim Jong Un praising the sculptures, saying they were created to permanently convey the "legendary heroism and honorable lives of the esteemed sons and daughters of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, guardians of the nation's honor." He also emphasized that the North Korean military has demonstrated the "law of power" and the unchanging truth that those with a strong spirit ultimately prevail.
The North Korean leader stressed the importance of maintaining high artistic standards and meticulous detail in every aspect, so museum visitors can fully appreciate the "steadfast faith in victory" of the brave soldiers and remember them forever.
Photos released by KCNA show sculptures depicting battle scenes and soldiers in full combat gear, approximately two to three times life size. The Mansudae Art Studio is the state’s primary art institution responsible for producing major artworks used in government propaganda.
. Yonhap