North Korea's troops marched publicly on Russian soil for the first time in a formal military ceremony on 10 May 2025, joining Russia's Victory Day parade at Red Square in Moscow — a move that South Korea's unification ministry described as a deliberate display of the two nations' deepening military bond.

Seoul's Assessment

Yoon Min-ho, spokesperson for South Korea's unification ministry, addressed the development at a regular briefing on Monday, 11 May. "By marching in Russia's Victory Day parade for the first time, North Korea showed off its military ties with Russia," he said. Seoul views the participation as a calculated signal of the Pyongyang-Moscow axis moving beyond rhetoric into visible, operational alignment.

What Happened at Red Square

On Saturday, 10 May, a contingent of the Korean People's Army (KPA) — comprising combined ground, naval, and air force personnel — marched through Red Square, carrying the North Korean national flag alongside a banner marking Victory Day, which commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The march took place at Moscow's invitation, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Following the parade, Russian President Vladimir Putin met the contingent commander and "expressed his gratitude," KCNA reported.

Kim Jong-un's Message to Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory message to President Putin on the occasion of the 81st Victory Day, extending his "sincerest congratulations" and expressing satisfaction with what he described as a "brilliant history of independence, dignity, peace and prosperity" shared by the two countries. In his message, Kim reaffirmed Pyongyang's commitment to deepening ties with Moscow. "Reaffirming the stand of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to give top priority to and steadily develop the alliance-like comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries, I affirm once again that we will always faithfully fulfil the obligations under the inter-state treaty between the DPRK and Russia," Kim said, using North Korea's official name.

Background: Troops, Treaty, and Escalating Ties

This is not the first concrete sign of the military partnership. Pyongyang deployed approximately 15,000 combat troops to support Russia in its war in Ukraine following a strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim Jong-un and Putin in June 2024. The parade appearance now gives that alliance a highly visible, symbolic dimension — broadcast to the world from the same square where the Soviet Union once displayed its military might during the Cold War. Notably, this marks the first time North Korean troops have publicly marched on Russian soil in such a ceremony, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

What This Signals Going Forward

The optics of uniformed North Korean soldiers at Moscow's most prestigious military ceremony carry strategic weight beyond pageantry. Analysts note that the deployment of troops and this parade appearance together suggest the DPRK-Russia partnership is consolidating rapidly, with potential implications for arms supply chains, military technology transfers, and the broader geopolitical balance on the Korean Peninsula. How the United States, South Korea, and NATO allies respond to this increasingly formalised alliance will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.