North Korea Displays German Tanks Captured on the Russia-Ukraine Battlefield
Reference News Network reported on April 30 According to a report from the German news television channel website on April 28, North Korean state media KCNA reported that North Korea has built a new memorial hall in Pyongyang to commemorate its army's battles in the Kursk region of Russia. More than 10,000 North Korean soldiers responded to Moscow's call for help and participated in combat against the Ukrainian army there.
At the inauguration ceremony of the memorial hall, Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, along with Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of Russia, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, reviewed the exhibits. Russian media released a photo showing the three passing by a Leopard main battle tank.
The side of the tank is marked with the words “Leopard-2A4 Main Battle Tank (Germany).” It is reported that this tank was captured near Suja in the Kursk region on February 11, 2025. In other images released by North Korea, infantry fighting vehicles labeled “Mongoose,” M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, and Finnish XA-185 armored personnel carriers can also be seen.
In early 2025, after months of fighting, the Ukrainian army withdrew from the area, leaving behind a large amount of military equipment. Whether this Leopard-2A4 tank truly fell into Russian or North Korean hands in Kursk cannot be definitively verified at this time. It may also have been captured by Russian forces in Ukraine and then handed over to North Korea.
It is not uncommon for participating parties to meticulously study and display captured military equipment. Moscow has also exhibited Leopard tanks and Mongoose infantry fighting vehicles. Kyiv has showcased many pieces of Russian military equipment as well. (Translated by Wang Ziqiang)
North Korea commemorated its military's involvement in battles against Ukrainian forces in Kursk by inaugurating a museum in Pyongyang. Over 10,000 North Korean soldiers participated in these operations. The event featured a display of captured military equipment, including a Leopard 2A4 tank, which was reportedly seized in February 2025. The origins of the tank remain uncertain, as it may have been captured by Russian forces before being transferred to North Korea.
- North Korea has built a museum in Pyongyang to commemorate its military's involvement in battles in the Kursk region.
- Over 10,000 North Korean soldiers participated in combat against Ukrainian forces in Kursk.
- A Leopard 2A4 tank was reportedly captured near Suja in Kursk on February 11, 2025.
- Other displayed equipment includes M1A1 Abrams tanks and Wolverine infantry fighting vehicles.
- The authenticity of the captured Leopard 2A4 tank's origin is uncertain.