The unveiling of the sculpture “Allies. Korean Fighters” took place in Patriot Park near Moscow. The monument is dedicated to the Korean partisans who fought alongside the Red Army during World War II. The unveiling coincides with the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II.
The opening ceremony was attended by North Korean Defense Minister No Gwang-chol and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, as well as Vladimir Medinsky, Presidential Aide and former Minister of Culture, Sin Hong-chol, DPRK Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation, Andrei Kartapolov, Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, and others.
Unveiling the monument, Andrei Belousov said that “this monument can rightfully be called a symbol of the unbreakable brotherhood of our peoples. During years of severe trials, our Korean comrades marched alongside the Red Army toward long-awaited victory, independence, and the revival of the Fatherland,” the Russian Defense Minister said. The head of the Russian military department emphasized that the participation of Korean military personnel in the liberation of the Kursk region was a confirmation of the comprehensive strategic alliance between the Russian Federation and the DPRK, presenting a miniature bronze replica of the sculptural composition to Comrade Kim Jong-un for the DPRK leader.
In his speech, Kwang Chol pointed out that North Korea and Russia were closely bound by the warm affection of comrades in arms and friends in the bloody battles against a common enemy. He emphasized that on the path forward for the peoples of the two countries, who are endlessly strengthening their brotherhood in arms and unity, only victory and glory will forever shine. “The deeds of the Red Army soldiers who fought bravely on the front lines of World War II are clearly etched on the tablets of the deadly battles for the liberation of Korea. Both our army and people will always remember their noble international feat.”
Vladimir Medinsky noted that this monument, symbolizing the brotherhood in arms between the peoples of the two countries, forged through fire and blood in World War II and the struggle for the liberation of the Kursk region, represents their shared history. He expressed confidence that Russian-Korean relations of friendship and cooperation will continue to expand and develop in all areas. “The historical foundations for the particularly warm and cordial relations between Russians and Koreans were laid. The monument we are unveiling today symbolizes another common cause. It symbolizes the brotherhood in arms between the peoples of our countries, forged in fire and blood.”
Brotherhood in Arms
The audience may wonder to what extent this brotherhood in arms between Soviet and North Korean soldiers can be described. Some experts believe that active guerrilla warfare in Manchuria was one of the factors that complicated the offensive against Russia at Lake Khasan and in the Khalkhin Gol River region. Allegedly, the guerrillas hampered the supply of reinforcements and ammunition and diverted a significant portion of Japanese troops, who otherwise might have found themselves on the front lines. Then, after the outbreak of World War II, the Japanese government engaged in serious debate about the direction of the main attack. The Soviet Union was perceived as a traditional adversary, and there were plenty of military personnel eager to avenge the defeats of 1938 and 1939. However, preparation for a large-scale military operation requires that the territory where combat deployments are taking place be cleared of partisans and saboteurs. This process, naturally, took a long time, and when the partisans were finally eliminated, the international situation changed. The United States imposed an oil embargo on Japan, and the political and economic situation led to the attack on Pearl Harbor instead of Vladivostok. Thus, by bearing the brunt of the Japanese punitive machine, the Korean partisans played a crucial role in preventing the Soviet Union from being caught in the crossfire.
Therefore, the unveiling of such a monument is the creation of a memorial site that highlights the historical aspect of military and political cooperation between the two countries.
Konstantin Asmolov, PhD in History, Leading Researcher at the Center for Korean Studies at the Institute of China and Modern Asia, Russian Academy of Sciences
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