Kim Jong Un praises North Korean troops killed in Ukraine war, including those who died by suicide in combat

Kim Jong Un praises North Korean soldiers killed in Russia’s Ukraine war campaign, including those who died in combat.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised soldiers who took part in fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, including those reported to have died in combat in Russia’s Kursk region.

According to Reuters, North Korea is believed to have deployed an estimated 14,000 troops to support Russian operations in the area. South Korean, Ukrainian and Western officials have claimed that the forces suffered heavy losses, with thousands reportedly killed during the fighting.

State media KCNA reported that Kim made the remarks at a memorial completion ceremony honouring North Korean soldiers, where Russian officials and bereaved families were also present. He described the deployed troops as “heroes” and praised their sacrifice in what he said was an unprecedented level of commitment.

Kim also referred to soldiers who died in battle, saying they should be remembered as loyal fighters who upheld their duty in extreme combat conditions. “They are not only heroes who unhesitatingly chose sacrifice to defend great honour, but also those who fell while charging at the forefront of assault battles,” he was quoted as saying.

Reports also noted that South Korea believes Pyongyang has received economic support and military technology from Russia in return for supplying troops and ammunition for the war effort. In December last year, Kim publicly acknowledged for the first time that North Korean personnel had been sent to assist operations in Russia’s Kursk region, including tasks such as mine clearance.

Separately, a report by the Seoul-based Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) estimated that North Korea may have earned billions of dollars through troop deployments and arms exports linked to the Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting the growing strategic and financial dimensions of its involvement.