North Korean leader Kim Jong Un honoured soldiers who served—and fell—in Russia’s war against Ukraine, describing their actions as “heroic” and praising their “selfless” participation in a ceremony held today, state media reported.
Awarding medals to both returning and posthumously recognised soldiers, Kim held an emotional gathering with bereaved families. He laid a flower at a memorial wall during the tribute, during which mourners and veterans also attended a commemorative concert and banquet.
In his remarks, Kim celebrated the troops’ combat performance and referenced the “liberation of Kursk,” underscoring how their involvement demonstrated “the power of the heroic [North Korean] army.” He added, “Our army is now doing what it ought to do and what needs to be done. It will do so in the future, too.”
South Korean and Western intelligence estimates suggest that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to the Kursk region in 2024, providing ammunition, missile systems, and long-range rockets to support Russia’s military efforts. Around 600 soldiers were reported killed and several thousand wounded.
The tribute follows growing strategic alignment between Pyongyang and Moscow, which recently signed a mutual defense pact during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea. Russia has previously hailed North Korean forces as “heroic” for their contributions to the conflict.
