Kim Jong Un honors North Korean troops in Ukraine

Reuters

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised troops who fought for Russia in Ukraine, calling them "heroic" during a ceremony honoring soldiers of the army's overseas operations.

Kim said in a speech, "The combat activities of overseas operational forces... proved without regret the power of the heroic (North Korean) army," and said the "liberation of Kursk" proved the "fighting spirit of the heroes," KCNA said.

During a ceremony, he decorated returning troops, laid flowers at a memorial for fallen soldiers, and attended a concert and banquet with families of the deceased.

The event follows previous public honors for troops involved in the overseas operation. South Korean lawmakers have reported that around 600 North Korean soldiers have died in Ukraine out of a total deployment of 15,000.

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