Russian filmmakers have revealed plans for a war movie starring a South Korea-born actor as a North Korean soldier fighting Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, a state-funded project that has sparked debate about how prominently the DPRK’s role will be depicted.

The military biopic titled “Sudzha. Brothers in Arms” will follow a Russian and a North Korean soldier during the recapture of the Sudzha border town in March 2025, producer Vadim Oleinik said Tuesday during a funding pitch for Russia’s Culture Ministry. It is slated for release in Aug. 2027.

Oleinik said the film is aimed primarily at young