North Korea’s Kim decorates soldiers from Russia, consoles children with hugs
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded the "heroic" North Korean troops who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine.
via REUTERS
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SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded his country’s “heroic” troops who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine, at a ceremony where he decorated returning soldiers and consoled children of the bereaved with hugs, state media reported on Aug 22.
Mr Kim, in a speech quoted by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said “the combat activities of overseas operational forces... proved without regret the power of the heroic (North Korean) army”, and that the “liberation of Kursk” proved the “fighting spirit of the heroes”.
In front of a memorial wall listing the dead, Mr Kim was seen hugging tearful children of fallen soldiers, with one wrapping his arms around the North Korean leader.
Along with army generals, Mr Kim attended a concert for soldiers who had returned from Russia and a banquet with bereaved family members, KCNA said.
The events were the latest public honouring of North Korean troops who fought in Russia
Mr Kim praised their overseas mission as “the victorious conclusion”, KCNA reported, though it was not clear whether this indicated the withdrawal of its troops from Russia.
About 600 North Korean troops were killed
North Korea is believed to be planning another such deployment, according to a South Korean intelligence assessment.
State television aired footage on Aug 22 that it said showed North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia in the Kursk region, which borders north-eastern Ukraine. The undated video listed the names and ages of soldiers and said how they had died. REUTERS
