KIM JONG UN HONORS NORTH KOREAN TROOPS KILLED FIGHTING FOR RUSSIA, CALLING THEM 'HEROES'. (PHOTO).

 Kim Jong Un honors North Korean troops killed fighting for Russia, calling them 'heroes'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly honored his country’s soldiers who died fighting for Russia in Ukraine, calling them “heroes” during an emotional award ceremony, state media reported Friday. The event marked a rare acknowledgment of Pyongyang’s casualties in the conflict.

According to KCNA, Kim expressed “deep gratitude and warmest militant respect” for those who returned home “despite the hail of bullets and bombs of the life-and-death war in the foreign country.” He praised their actions as a “great feat that firmly defended the great honor of the KPA,” referring to the Korean People’s Army. State media released photos showing Kim pinning commendation badges on soldiers’ uniforms, placing them on framed images of the deceased, and meeting with grieving family members. The ceremony also included laying flowers at a memorial wall and playing the national anthem.

The tribute came shortly after Kim received a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who described the North Korean troops as “heroic” and highlighted longstanding ties of military friendship between the two countries. Analysts say Pyongyang may have sent troops to Russia in exchange for advanced military technology to enhance its nuclear and missile programs.

Although the exact number of North Korean troops deployed remains unclear, estimates from South Korean, U.S., and Ukrainian officials suggest as many as 15,000 soldiers may have been sent, with about 600 killed and thousands more injured. North Korea’s military, one of the largest in the world, has limited combat experience since the Korean War, but soldiers are highly loyal to Kim and reportedly trained to die rather than surrender.

Experts noted that the ceremony is unusual during an active conflict and could signal Pyongyang’s desire to assert its role amid Russia’s ongoing negotiations over Ukraine. Analysts said that while cracks could appear between Moscow and Pyongyang if tensions persist, North Korean troops might remain stationed as a strategic presence along the Russia–Ukraine border.