North Korea’s Kim Jong Un lauds troops sent to fight overseas, vows to root out ‘evil’

SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to root out “evil” and lauded his troops fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine, the state media said on Dec 12, as Pyongyang capped a major meeting of its ruling party top brass.

The three-day meeting of the North Korean central committee discussed key policy issues as well as plans for an upcoming congress of its ruling party – North Korea’s first in five years and expected in January.

Wrapping up the meeting on Dec 11, Mr Kim condemned “the wrong ideological viewpoint and inactive and irresponsible work attitude” of some officials, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. He called on officials to have “greater confidence in and courage for the future of our cause and struggle”.

He also “pointed out the shortcomings and evil practices that must be corrected”, KCNA said.

The state media did not offer any specifics, though it did say the ruling party had revealed numerous recent “deviations” in discipline – a euphemism for corruption.

But he reserved praise for the North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine alongside Russia, at least 600 of whom have died and thousands more wounded, according to South Korean estimates.

Their work, he said, “demonstrated to the world the prestige of our army and state as the ever-victorious army and genuine protector of international justice”.

Analysts say Pyongyang is receiving financial aid, military technology, and food and energy supplies from Russia in return for sending troops.

Mr Kim’s mention of the troops “signalled Pyongyang’s intention to maintain that deployment”, Mr Ahn Chan-il, a researcher originally from North Korea, told AFP.

“North Korea is also highly likely to seek a role in post-war reconstruction in Russia once... the conflict ends,” he added.

Mr Kim also hailed efforts in 2025 in “modernising” the country’s defences in the face of great “global geopolitical and technological changes”.

Pyongyang’s central committee began meeting on Dec 9, the same day North Korea fired a salvo of artillery from a multiple rocket launcher system, which analysts say could strike the South.

Last week, the South’s dovish President Lee Jae Myung said he felt an apology was due to the North over his predecessor’s alleged order to send drones and propaganda leaflets across the border.

Pyongyang has not responded to the overture from Mr Lee, who has sought to mend fractured ties with the North.

And Dec 12’s readout made no mention of South Korea or the US, whose leader Donald Trump had hoped to meet Mr Kim during a visit to Asia in October.

The pair – who Mr Trump once famously declared were “in love” – last met in 2019 at Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone separating the two Koreas after the US leader extended an invitation to Mr Kim on Twitter.

But analysts now say the North Korean leader, increasingly emboldened by his growing ties with Russia, had few good reasons to join the photo op. AFP