North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has once again met with the families of soldiers killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, offering condolences for their “unbearable pain” and pledging state support for the bereaved.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim personally hosted the families in Pyongyang, expressing sorrow at the loss of North Korean troops who, he said, sacrificed their lives to “defend the country’s honour.” This marks the second time in August that the North Korean leader has held such meetings, underscoring his effort to project solidarity with families of fallen soldiers.
“I had this meeting arranged as I wanted to meet and console the bereaved families of all the heroes and relieve them of their sorrow and anguish even a little,” Kim was quoted as saying. He admitted feeling grief at having “failed to save the precious lives” of soldiers who perished in combat.
Kim also announced that the state will build a new monument in the capital to commemorate the soldiers’ sacrifice, while a newly named street will honour their families. He pledged government support to the children of the deceased, promising they would be “trained admirably as staunch and courageous fighters like their fathers.”
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South Korean and Western intelligence agencies estimate that Pyongyang has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia this year, largely deployed in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border. In addition, North Korea is believed to have supplied Moscow with large stockpiles of artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems to sustain Russia’s war effort.
Seoul has suggested that at least 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed, with thousands more wounded, although Pyongyang has not released any official figures.
The deepening cooperation highlights North Korea’s growing role as a military partner to Russia amid international sanctions. Analysts say Kim’s public engagement with bereaved families is meant to bolster morale at home while reinforcing his image as a caring leader, despite the heavy losses.
“I, our state and our army will take full responsibility,” Kim said, promising a “beautiful life” for those left behind.