North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was seen in tears during a ceremony honouring North Korean troops who died fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine — even as reports suggest he is preparing to deploy thousands more to the war front.
In a solemn state event, Kim draped national flags over at least six coffins while an orchestra played mournful music and singers performed emotional ballads. Broadcast images showed the dictator visibly moved as he watched footage of himself honouring the fallen soldiers, who were reportedly among the 12,000 North Koreans sent to aid Russia’s war efforts.
The troops, many poorly equipped and undertrained, suffered heavy losses in Ukraine, particularly in the contested Kursk region. Despite the staggering casualties, North Korea is expected to send an additional 6,000 troops to the front lines later this summer.
The event, held in a vast Pyongyang auditorium, was attended by Russian and North Korean military personnel and dignitaries, including Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova. It also marked the first anniversary of a strategic partnership treaty signed last year by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which includes a mutual defense clause.
The Korea Central News Agency praised the memorial as a celebration of “internationalist obligation” and a reaffirmation of the “blood-forged” alliance between the two nations.
However, the growing military collaboration has drawn strong criticism from the international community. South Korea and Japan have both condemned the deployment of North Korean troops as a violation of United Nations sanctions and a dangerous escalation in the conflict.
