Leader Kim Jong Un praised troops in “overseas military operations” during a speech marking North Korea’s founding anniversary, state media reported on Sept. 10, an apparent nod to Pyongyang’s assistance in Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

Kim’s founding-day speech brings North Korea’s once-secret deployment into its official patriotic narrative as military ties with Moscow deepen.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed special thanks to troops involved in overseas military operations and called on North Koreans to adva...