Kim personally awarded the prestigious “Hero” status to commanders and soldiers. These were the troops returning from the Kursk border region, where they engaged in combat. During the ceremony, Kim placed honorary medals next to photographs of the fallen soldiers. State media also called these deceased troops “heroes.”
In his speech, Kim declared that the “participants in overseas operations, through their unwavering struggle and noble sacrifice, have achieved great successes that will be remembered forever.” The state news agency, KCNA, reported further details of the elaborate tributes. Kim laid wreaths at a memorial wall for the soldiers lost abroad. A concert was held for the returning troops, followed by a banquet. Families of the deceased soldiers attended this special dinner.
North Korea’s involvement in the conflict runs deeper than just these celebrated soldiers. According to assessments from South Korea, about 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia since last autumn. Pyongyang has also supplied a substantial amount of military hardware. This includes artillery and missiles, all to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
Looking ahead, Kim Jong Un has also agreed to send thousands more personnel. This new deployment will include construction workers and bomb disposal experts. They are headed to Russia’s Kursk region, with South Korean intelligence suggesting this move could happen very soon.
Officials in South Korea are understandably worried about these growing ties. They fear North Korea might receive much-needed economic aid and advanced military technology in exchange for its support. This exchange could seriously increase the threat posed by Kim’s existing nuclear weapons program. Experts also point out another gain for North Korea: its military will gather invaluable combat experience from the ongoing conflict.