Kim consoles families of fallen soldiers during another ceremony in Pyongyang. The event honored troops who died while deployed to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Moreover, Kim personally decorated service members and handed portraits of the dead to their relatives. The gathering underscored the human cost of North Korea’s expanding overseas military role.
The ceremony came just before Kim’s planned trip to China. He will attend a military parade alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Experts believe the timing was deliberate to display sacrifice before his likely summit with Putin. Therefore, the moment served as both commemoration and political signal. The act showed how Kim consoles families while preparing for high-level diplomacy.
According to state coverage, Kim led the second commendation event in person. Photos captured him placing hero medals near portraits of fallen soldiers. He then presented the portraits, wrapped in national flags, to their families. Moreover, he posed for pictures with grieving relatives. The public scene reinforced the narrative that Kim consoles families directly.
Kim expressed sorrow for not bringing the soldiers home alive. He called them martyrs who fought bravely on foreign soil. Moreover, he pledged state responsibility for their children’s education and future. He promised to send them to revolutionary schools to grow as courageous fighters. His words framed the losses as both a tragedy and a national duty.
During the ceremony, Kim also revealed plans for a new memorial street. He vowed to build “Saebyol Street” in Pyongyang to honor the fallen. Their remains will be placed in a dedicated arboretum nearby. Moreover, a monument will commemorate their “immortal combat feats.” The project aims to keep their sacrifices permanently visible.
North Korea has dispatched about 13,000 troops to aid Russia since last year. Intelligence reports suggest around 600 soldiers died and more than 4,000 suffered injuries. Analysts believe the ceremonies help justify the losses while extracting greater rewards from Moscow. Moreover, they frame North Korea’s role as essential in the Russia-Ukraine war.
By honoring the dead, Kim consoles families while reinforcing loyalty to the state. His actions combine mourning with political theater, ensuring sacrifices strengthen his leadership image. Ultimately, the ceremonies highlight both domestic propaganda and international strategy. The message is clear: losses will not weaken North Korea’s alliance with Russia.
