Kim Jong-un honors engineer troops from Russia's Kursk mission; 9 dead

• North Korea held a ceremony for engineer troops returning from a mine-clearance mission in Russia's Kursk region.
• Leader Kim Jong-un honored the returning soldiers and paid tribute to nine who died during the deployment.
• The 528th Regiment of Engineers, comprising about 1,000 troops, was dispatched in early August to assist Russian forces.
• Kim praised the regiment for completing the "almost impossible" task quickly and criticized Western military forces.
• The regiment received the Order of Freedom and Independence, and deceased soldiers were posthumously awarded 'DPRK Hero'.

Why It Matters: North Korea's confirmed military support for Russia, with casualties, reveals direct war role.