North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has awarded medals to his troops who fought alongside Russia in the war against Ukraine. In an emotional meeting with families of fallen soldiers, Kim praised their bravery and hailed them as “heroic” warriors. He also hinted at future military cooperation between North Korea and Moscow.
Kim’s remarks come as tensions rise in the conflict, with Russian President Vladimir Putin avoiding talks with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The US has been trying to broker peace, but efforts so far have been unsuccessful.
According to South Korean intelligence estimates, over 10,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, where they fought alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. Around 600 of these soldiers were killed and thousands more were wounded.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/22/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-hails-troops-killed-in-heroic-war-with-ukraine