Analysts say Kim’s tears for fallen soldiers betray a calculated attempt to quell public dissent over mounting casualties in Russia’s war
Though 101 portraits were visible in the footage, state media did not confirm how many soldiers had been killed.
Kim Jong-un decorates soldiers who fought for Russia
State television devoted a full day of programming to the sacrifices of troops deployed to the conflict, including graphic battlefield footage that was broadcast late into the night. The images showed soldiers writhing in pain and trading fire with Ukrainian drones, as the narration recounted several cases of troops detonating their own grenades to avoid capture.
“They did not hesitate to choose the path of self-detonation that left no trace of their bodies,” Kim declared at the ceremony, according to state media. “Our gallant officers stepped forward, laying down their lives and meeting a glorious end.”
