North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has met the families of soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine and expressed his deep condolences, state media says.
In a special ceremony held on Friday, Kim was seen comforting bereaved families and presenting them portraits of their dead loved ones wrapped in the North Korean flag.
South Korea believes the North has sent some 15,000 troops to aid Russia's war with Ukraine, along with missiles and long-range weapons. In return, it is believed North Korea received food, money, and technical help.
North Korea only acknowledged its role in the foreign conflict in April, admitting that some of its soldiers had been killed.
Western officials reported that at least 1,000 North Korean troops were believed killed within three months, although recent estimates suggest the figure is closer to 600.
Friday's ceremony was the second of its kind in a week. During the event, Kim expressed sorrow over the soldiers' losses, pledged to build a monument in their honor, and to care for their families.
Kim plans to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin in China next week, marking a further deepening of relations between North Korea and Russia, especially in military cooperation.
This meeting occurs against the backdrop of increasing military alliances as both nations navigate international pressures.
