North Korea opens new housing district for families of fallen soldiers
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had pushed to finish the project “even one day earlier” in the hope that it might bring “some small comfort” to the troops’ families.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the completion ceremony of a new housing district in Pyongyang for families of troops who have died in overseas military operations, said state media KCNA on Feb 16.
In a speech, Mr Kim said the new district symbolised the “spirit and sacrifice” of the dead troops, adding that the homes were meant to allow bereaved families to “take pride in their sons and husbands and live happily”.
Mr Kim said he had pushed to finish the project “even one day earlier” in the hope that it might bring “some small comfort” to the troops’ families.
Photographs released by KCNA showed Mr Kim accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, consoling family members of the fallen soldiers and visiting their newly completed homes.
There has been growing speculation over whether the teenager is being groomed to be Mr Kim’s successor
In the past three years, Kim Ju Ae has appeared alongside her father at an expanding range of events, including missile tests, military anniversaries and major national celebrations, in a sign that the state propaganda apparatus is gradually elevating her visibility.
Under a mutual defence pact with Russia, North Korea sent some 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine in 2024, where more than 6,000 of them were killed
North Korea has staged multiple public ceremonies in recent months to honour its war dead, including the unveiling of a new memorial complex
The opening comes ahead of the ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, which is set to convene in late February and is expected to serve as a major political showcase for Mr Kim’s achievements and policy priorities. REUTERS
