On Friday, August 22, North Korean state media released new images showing Kim Jong Un kneeling before portraits of soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, as well as hugging an emotional survivor of the conflict.
Images of an elaborate ceremony appeared to show an overwhelmed Kim presenting medals, placing them beside portraits of the fallen and consoling the returned soldiers, as Pyongyang’s leadership hailed the soldiers as heroes who sacrificed their youth and lives.
He personally awarded the title of “DPRK (North Korea) hero” to commanding officers who fought in overseas operations and “performed distinguished feats,” KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) reported.
The North Korean leader praised the “admirable” troops “who returned home with great honour” after enduring the “hail of bullets and bombs of the life-and-death war in the foreign country,” KCNA said.
South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have said the North sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024, primarily to the Kursk region. Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting for Russia, Seoul said.
