Kim Jong Un Acknowledges 100 North Korean Soldier Deaths Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly acknowledged for the first time that soldiers he sent to support Russia's military efforts in the conflict in Ukraine have suffered significant casualties. During a ceremony honoring about 100 fallen soldiers and attended by their families, Kim appeared emotional as he comforted children and praised the troops as "heroic." North Korea reportedly deployed up to 15,000 troops to Russia's Kursk region starting in late 2024, with South Korean intelligence estimating around 4,700 casualties and Seoul reporting about 600 deaths and thousands injured. Kim described the mission as a "victorious conclusion" but did not clarify if the troops are being withdrawn. Meanwhile, fighting continues in the region, with Ukraine conducting drone strikes on Russian logistical targets such as the Novoshakhtinsky Oil Refinery. This marks a rare public admission from Pyongyang on its direct military involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war and highlights the ongoing heavy human cost for North Korean forces supporting Moscow.