North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected new statues for a memorial honoring DPRK soldiers who fought against Ukraine, though state media avoided any mention of military cooperation with Russia. 

Kim, defense minister No Kwang Chol and high-ranking officials visited the Mansudae Art Studio on Sunday, according to the party daily Rodong Sinmun the following day.

They reportedly reviewed sculptures of DPRK soldiers set to be installed at a new war museum under construction in east Pyongyang.

North Korea began work on the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats for Overseas Military Operations in October, with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov