A visibly emotional Kim Jong-un was seen consoling families of North Korean soldiers killed during the Ukraine war. During a ceremony in Pyongyang on Friday (22 August), the North Korean dictator awarded “hero” titles to troops who returned after fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk. “My heart aches and is bitter, as I face the reality that I only get to meet the noble figures who gave up their precious lives for great victory and glory through photos on the memorial wall,” state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Kim as saying. In 2024, Pyongyang sent more than 20,000 soldiers to the Kursk region, according to South Korean and Western Intelligence agencies. Around 600 have been killed in action.

North Korean leader hints at more military cooperation with Moscow ‘in the future’ as he awards medals to soldiers.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a ceremony to honor the country's troops deployed to Russia, state media reported Friday, calling them "great heroes and great patriots."