North Korea will send 5,000 construction workers and 1,000 deminers to help rebuild Russia's war-damaged Kursk region, announced Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu after a meeting with Kim Jong-un. This follows a reported Ukrainian attack on Kursk last year. The agreement signifies deepening ties between the two nations, despite UN sanctions prohibiting North Korean laborers' employment abroad. The move also involves plans for war memorials and potential direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.