Kim Jong-un Honors North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine at Pyongyang Gala

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

PYONGYANG — In a rare acknowledgment of battlefield casualties, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has paid public tribute to North Korean soldiers killed during Russia’s war against Ukraine. Photographs showed Kim resting his hands on the coffins of fallen soldiers draped in North Korean flags, images displayed during a gala concert held Sunday in Pyongyang to mark the first anniversary of a military cooperation treaty with Russia.

The event at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre blended performances by North Korean and Russian artists with video montages praising the military alliance sealed last year by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Among the images was a page from a blood-stained notebook reportedly recovered from the battlefield in Russia’s Kursk region, containing handwritten notes vowing to fight “bravely in this sacred battle” under Kim’s command.

Though the exact timing of the repatriation ceremony was unclear, winter clothing worn by Kim and senior officials, including his sister Kim Yo-jong and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, suggested the soldiers’ remains were returned several months ago.

After months of denying that its troops were deployed to Ukraine, Pyongyang appears to be reframing its involvement as a patriotic mission and a symbol of victory.

“North Korea likely wants to portray these soldiers not as mere losses, but as martyrs who achieved success,” explained Hong Min, a senior researcher at South Korea’s Korea Institute for National Unification.

Footage broadcast on North Korean state TV showed Kim appearing emotional, seated beside Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova and his daughter Kim Ju-ae, while audience members wiped away tears.

The Korea Herald reported that this was the first time state media had shown images of soldiers deployed to Russia, allowing ordinary North Koreans to witness their sacrifices.

The state-run KCNA news agency described the event as strengthening the “genuine internationalist obligation” between North Korea and Russia, forged “with blood.”

Earlier this year, Putin and Kim jointly confirmed for the first time that North Korean forces had been sent to fight in Ukraine, describing them as “heroes.”

Kim previously pledged to build a monument in Pyongyang to honor these troops, while laying flowers at their graves, signaling a significant policy shift.

Thank you for reading! For comprehensive news coverage and exclusive stories, visit SafartiTarjuman.com