Kim Jong Un Pays Rare Public Tribute to North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine War
Pyongyang, North Korea | June 29 (Reuters) – In a striking display of emotion and symbolism, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly paid homage to fallen soldiers believed to have died while fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing Ukraine war. The rare tribute, shown on a massive screen during a state event in Pyongyang, underscores deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
The footage, aired by state media and widely shared internationally, shows Kim visibly distressed as he leans over a coffin draped in the North Korean flag, surrounded by senior military officials and family members of the deceased. The ceremony marks the first public acknowledgment by the regime of North Korean casualties in a foreign conflict in decades.
A Historic Moment Amid Growing Russia Ties
The solemn ceremony took place on June 29, coinciding with the first anniversary of the Pyongyang-Moscow Strategic Treaty, which analysts say has transformed North Korea into a silent partner in Russia's war against Ukraine.
According to South Korean intelligence sources, thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed to Russian-occupied territories since late 2024, assisting in military operations and infrastructure rebuilding, particularly in areas like Kursk.
Propaganda and Patriotism
North Korean state TV portrayed the dead as martyrs of justice, quoting passages from a blood-stained soldier’s notebook recovered from the battlefield, including:
“Let us bravely fight this sacred battle with the boundless love of our Supreme Commander.”
Observers say this narrative is part of Pyongyang’s effort to normalize its role in the conflict and stir patriotic fervor among its citizens.
International Reactions
The images have sparked international concern, with critics warning that North Korea's deepening involvement in Ukraine further destabilizes the region and strengthens the Moscow-Pyongyang axis amid ongoing global sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
