Pyongyang, April 27 (KCNA) -- Under a presidential decree of the Russian Federation, Order of Bravery was conferred on the commanding officers and combatants of the overseas operations units of the Korean People's Army who made distinguished contributions to liberating the territory of the Russian Federation from the military occupation by the Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces.

A ceremony of awarding the Order took place in Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on April 26.

Present there were Andrei Beloussov, minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, and his party on a visit to the DPRK to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations, and Alexei Bartusov, defense attache of the Russian embassy here.

Attending it were No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, Kim Jong Gyu, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials of the Ministry of National Defence, together with those involved in the overseas military operations.

Andrei Beloussov conferred the Order of Bravery on commanding officers and combatants of the overseas operations units and made a speech.

He paid tribute to the genuine heroes of the present era, the pride of the Korean armed forces, commending the Korean servicepersons who remain boundlessly loyal to their country and made a great contribution to the liberation of Kursk, upon authorization by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

He said that the Korean servicepersons are always ready to become an impregnable wall against any threat with bravery and courage, adding that they are carrying forward the glorious tradition and valiance of their legendary ancestors.

He stressed that the state commendation is not merely for praising the professionalism of servicepersons but for praising the noble spirit they displayed in the fiercest battles and wakeful nights to carry out their duties and save their comrades-in-arms by withstanding severe mental and physical pressure and dedicating their lives.

He expressed deep thanks in the name of all the Russian people, saying that the bravery and resolute will of the servicepersons of the Korean People's Army made a great contribution to achieving common successes.

Andrei Beloussov conveyed to No Kwang Chol the state commendation and the presidential decree of the Russian Federation for the martyrs who performed heroic feats in the battles of liberating Kursk Region.

No Kwang Chol expressed thanks to the Russian government for highly appreciating the combat feats of the KPA servicepersons involved in overseas military operations. -0-