North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently met with the families of soldiers who were killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, expressing condolences, according to state media. During a ceremony held on a Friday, Kim was seen comforting the grieving families and presenting them with portraits of their deceased loved ones, draped in the North Korean flag.
Reports from South Korea suggest that North Korea has dispatched approximately 15,000 troops to assist Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, providing military support, including missiles and long-range weapons. In exchange, it is believed that North Korea has received food, financial aid, and technical assistance from Russia. North Korea publicly acknowledged its involvement in the conflict in April, admitting that some of its soldiers had lost their lives.
Earlier this year, Western officials estimated that at least 1,000 North Korean troops may have died within three months of being deployed, while more recent assessments suggest a lower figure of around 600 fatalities. The recent ceremony was the second such event within a week; during this gathering, Kim expressed sorrow over the soldiers’ deaths and made a commitment to create a monument in their honor, as well as to care for their children.
Kim mentioned, as reported by KCNA, that he wanted to console all bereaved families, particularly those who were not present at the previous ceremony. Next week, Kim is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China, coinciding with a military parade commemorating Japan’s surrender in World War II. This meeting marks their third engagement in two years, underscoring the deepening ties and cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Last October, Kim referred to Putin as his closest comrade in a birthday message, and that same month, Putin proposed a military pact with Kim, pledging mutual support in the case of aggression against either nation. North Korea is estimated to have around 1.28 million active soldiers, but prior to the deployment in Ukraine, its military had limited recent experience in overseas combat operations.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj2v7n0101o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss