Kim Jong Un, Supreme Leader of North Korea, visited the Mansudae Art Studio on January 25 to review the creation of sculptures for the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations. The memorial is intended to honor the DPRK soldiers who have lost their lives serving in conflicts abroad, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Accompanied by top party and military officials, including No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence, Kim Jong Un emphasized that the museum and its sculptures are designed not only to commemorate legendary feats but also to immortalize the ordinary soldiers whose sacrifices exemplify the strength, discipline, and patriotism of the Korean People’s Army.

Unlike earlier monuments that focused on individual heroes from historical wars, the new memorial highlights collective heroism, portraying the everyday soldiers who have fought and died overseas. Kim described the project as a symbolic testament to the enduring spirit of the DPRK military and its ideological continuity, connecting the sacrifices of today’s troops to the legacy of previous generations.

He underscored the belief that the army’s strength lies in its spirit, arguing that the ability of soldiers to emerge victorious is unmatched by any other military. Kim emphasized that all sculptures must reflect this principle with high artistic standards and meticulous detail, allowing visitors to feel the soldiers’ faith in certain victory even when standing before a single piece.

Guiding the studio on the next steps, he called for sculptures to vividly symbolize the army’s militant stamina, offensive spirit, comradeship, and patriotism. He stressed the importance of harmonizing sculptural forms with architectural structures and refining the distribution and arrangement of elements to maximize the monument’s impact. Kim expressed confidence that the artists would complete the work at the highest level, presenting creations that reflect the eternal gratitude and respect of the party, government, army, and people for the nation’s patriots.

The leader expressed confidence that the artists at Mansudae Art Studio would complete the sculptures to the highest artistic standards, ensuring that the memorial stands as a permanent tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed themselves in overseas military operations, including those lost in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.