Kim Jong Un Pays Rare Tribute To Hundreds Killed Fighting For Russia In Ukraine War

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly mourned the deaths of North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, describing his "heart aches" at the loss during a ceremony in Pyongyang. He honored the troops as a "heroic army," awarded commendation badges to survivors and posthumously to the fallen, and met with grieving families, showing rare emotional openness. North Korea began sending thousands of troops and military equipment to support Russia after Kim's meetings with Vladimir Putin, with estimates of around 12,000 soldiers deployed and plans for tens of thousands more. This ceremony marks one of the first public acknowledgments by Pyongyang of the heavy casualties suffered, highlighting North Korea's deepening involvement in the conflict. Despite the mounting losses, Kim continues to endorse the deployment of troops, emphasizing their crucial role in the fighting near Russia's western Kursk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin also recently paid tribute to North Korean forces, underscoring the continued military cooperation between the two autocratic regimes.