North Korean Leader Meets Families of Soldiers Killed in Russia-Ukraine War

SadaNews - North Korean President Kim Jong Un met with the families of soldiers who were killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, offering his condolences for their "unspeakable suffering," according to the official Korean Central News Agency on Saturday.

Pyongyang has not confirmed the number of soldiers who died in combat alongside Russian forces, but Seoul estimates the number to be around 600, in addition to thousands who were injured.

South Korean intelligence and Western countries have confirmed that Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 soldiers to the Kursk area in 2024, along with artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket launchers.

Kim delivered a speech in front of the soldiers' families on Friday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency, after having met some of them only last week during another public celebration where he distributed honorary medals to the soldiers.

In his speech, Kim stated: "I have thought a lot about the families of other martyrs who were not present. Therefore, I arranged this meeting out of my desire to meet the families of all the martyrs and to comfort them, alleviating their grief and suffering, even if just a little."

He promised to establish a memorial in the capital as well as a new street for the victims' families, while the state would provide full support for the soldiers' children.

Kim added, "My heart breaks and aches more when I see these young children."

He continued, "I, our country, and our army will take full responsibility for them and will train them to become strong and brave fighters like their fathers."

In April of last year, North Korea confirmed that it had deployed a battalion of its soldiers to the front line with Ukraine alongside Russian forces.