North Korean state media on Tuesday released images of leader Kim Jong Un grieving over flag-draped coffins of North Korean soldiers killed while fighting together with Russian forces in Ukraine, as South Koreas Defense Ministry said it has yet to see signs of additional troop implementations from the North.The nuclear-armed North has become among Russias essential allies given that the full-blown intrusion of Ukraine, sending countless soldiers and deliveries of weapons to bolster the Kremlins efforts to drive Ukrainian forces from the Kursk border region.Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been eliminated and thousands more injured while defending Russia, according to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, who mentioned intelligence from Seouls spy agency.Footage aired by Korean Central Television showed a solemn Kim positioning a North Korean flag on a coffin throughout an event in Pyongyang on Sunday.
The occasion attended by Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova marked the 1 year anniversary of a military pact between Pyongyang and Moscow that consists of a mutual defense clause.State television also showed battlefield images of North Korean soldiers, with captions reading: Oh, our heroes, shining stars of my homeland, and Those who provided their lives without hesitation to defend honor shine like radiant stars.Attendees from both nations were seen in tears throughout the tribute.A photo of a file, supposedly signed by Kim, appeared to reveal him approving operational prepare for the liberation of Kursk and releasing attack orders to North Korean special operations systems in late 2024.
Kim was accompanied at the ceremony by his teenage child, Ju Ae, whom numerous analysts think he is grooming as his successor.North Korea formally verified in April that it had actually released troops to support Russias war effort and acknowledged casualties among its forces.Last week, legislator Lee stated Pyongyang could send out additional soldiers to Ukraine as early as this month, citing intelligence from South Koreas National Intelligence Service.However, South Koreas Defense Ministry said Tuesday it presently sees no indications of imminent releases, noting that North Korean forces are taken part in their annual summer training period, with some frontline units participating in mid-year drills.