North Korea's Kim Jong Un Consoles Families of Fallen Soldiers in Ukraine War

Mon Sep 15 2025 17:07:07 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a poignant ceremony, Kim Jong Un expressed his condolences to families of North Korean soldiers who lost their lives supporting Russia in its conflict against Ukraine. This meeting highlighted North Korea's commitment to honor its troops as reports of thousands sent to assist Russia emerge.

Kim Jong Un met with the grieving families of North Korean soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, expressing profound sorrow and pledging support for their children. The ceremony coincides with international scrutiny over North Korea's military alliances, as estimates suggest substantial losses among its troops dispatched to the conflict.

Kim Jong Un has met the families of soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, expressing his deep condolences, North Korean state media reports.

In a special ceremony held on Friday, the North Korean leader was seen comforting bereaved families and presenting them portraits of their deceased loved ones wrapped in the national flag.

South Korea estimates that North Korea has deployed approximately 15,000 troops to support Russia's invasion, receiving food, financial backing, and advanced weaponry in return.

North Korea only acknowledged its military involvement in the conflict in April, admitting that some soldiers had perished.

Western intelligence suggested that at least 1,000 North Korean troops may have died in the initial months of the conflict, although later assessments have lowered the estimate to around 600 deaths.

During the recent ceremony, Kim conveyed his sorrow over the loss of life and pledged to build a monument in honor of the soldiers and provide for their families. I had this meeting arranged to console the bereaved families of all the heroes and relieve them of their sorrow, KCNA reported Kim's sentiments.

Kim is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China next week as they continue to strengthen their collaboration. This is the third meeting between the two leaders within two years, showcasing the deepening ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Kim notably described Putin as his closest comrade in previous correspondence, and collaborative military agreements have been reported to solidify their support for each other against perceived external threats.

While North Korea boasts a large standing military of approximately 1.28 million personnel, the deployment to Ukraine marked its first significant combat engagement outside its borders in recent years.

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