Kim Jong
By Abayomi Grace
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently held a ceremony to decorate troops who fought for Russia against Ukraine. The event was held at the Workers’ Party headquarters in Pyongyang, where Kim praised the “admirable” troops who returned home with great honor after enduring the harsh conditions of war.
Kim was seen kneeling before portraits of soldiers killed in action, paying his respects and placing medals and flowers beside the images of the dead. He also personally awarded the title of “DPRK (North Korea) hero” to commanding officers who fought in overseas operations and performed distinguished feats.
The ceremony was attended by returned soldiers, bereaved families, and other high-ranking officials. Kim met with the families to console them and share “the pain of loss,” and laid a flower at the memorial wall. Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed North Korean troops sent to fight in Ukraine as “heroic” in a letter to Kim, Pyongyang’s state media reported last week
-North Korea confirmed deploying troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine in April, admitting that its soldiers had been killed in combat.
– South Korean and Western intelligence agencies estimate that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia in 2024, primarily to the Kursk region, along with artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems.
– Approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed, and thousands more wounded, fighting for Russia.
– US President Donald Trump has held high-profile talks with Russian and Ukrainian leaders in a bid to end the conflict, but little tangible progress has been made.
– Washington believes Russia is stepping up support for North Korea, includinproviding help on advanced space and satellite technology, in return for its assistance in fighting Ukraine.
– Analysts note that satellite launchers and ICBMs share much of the same underlying technology, raising concerns about the implications of Russia’s support for North Korea.
