North Korea’s Kim Jong Un hails troops killed in ‘heroic’ war with Ukraine
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has awarded medals to his returning and fallen troops, who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine, as he held an emotional meeting with the families of soldiers killed on the battlefield, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
“The combat activities of overseas operational forces … proved without regret the power of the heroic [North Korean] army,” and that the “liberation of Kursk” proved the “fighting spirit of the heroes”, KCNA reported on Friday, quoting Kim.
“Our army is now doing what it ought to do and what needs to be done. It will do so in the future, too,” Kim said, according to KCNA.
He also laid a flower at a memorial wall for North Korean soldiers killed overseas, and a concert was held for soldiers who returned from serving in Russia, as well as a banquet that included bereaved family members of slain troops, KCNA said.
Photos published by the news agency showed the North Korean leader hugging visibly emotional family members of fallen soldiers.
South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have said Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems to be used by Russia against Ukraine.“Our army is now doing what it ought to do and what needs to be done. It will do so in the future, too,” Kim said, according to KCNA.
He also laid a flower at a memorial wall for North Korean soldiers killed overseas, and a concert was held for soldiers who returned from serving in Russia, as well as a banquet that included bereaved family members of slain troops, KCNA said.
Photos published by the news agency showed the North Korean leader hugging visibly emotional family members of fallen soldiers.
South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have said Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems to be used by Russia against Ukraine.
