North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised a “beautiful life” for the families of soldiers who died fighting for Russia in Ukraine, state media reported on Saturday. He praised the bereaved for the heroism of their sons and husbands.
On Friday, Kim hosted the families of the fallen, expressing “grief at having failed to save the precious lives” of those who sacrificed themselves to defend the country’s honour, according to KCNA.
“The heroic feats of the soldiers and officers were possible because of the strength and courage given to them by families who are the most tenacious, patriotic and just people in the world,” Kim told parents, wives, and children, KCNA reported.
“They did not write even a short letter to me, but I think they must have entrusted their families, including those beloved children, to me,” he added. “The country will provide you with a beautiful life in the country defended at the cost of the lives of the martyrs.”
State television showed Kim bowing deeply to family members who appeared overcome with emotion.
The meeting follows earlier recognition of North Korean troops who reportedly suffered heavy casualties in Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine. In April, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the deployment after months of silence.
A 25-minute documentary aired on state television on Saturday included footage of soldiers participating in “Operation Kursk Liberation,” aimed at driving Ukrainian forces from the Russian region. Reuters could not independently verify the footage.
The film revealed that Kim authorised the deployment in August, two months after signing a mutual defence treaty with Putin.
Kim is scheduled to join Putin in China next week for a military parade marking Japan’s surrender in World War Two. The event will mark their third meeting in two years, highlighting a growing military alliance.
The scale of North Korea’s deployment and casualties remains unclear.
South Korea’s intelligence agency estimates around 600 of the 15,000 deployed troops have died, while some Western intelligence sources suggest the toll could exceed 6,000.
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Iran has signed a secret €500 million arms deal with Russia to rebuild air defences, weakened during last year’s war with Israel, the Financial Times has reported. The agreement, signed in December in Moscow, will see Russia deliver 500 Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said the bloc is unlikely to reach agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia at Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, as continued Hungarian opposition keeps consensus out of reach.
The European Parliament’s trade chief has urged a temporary suspension of the EU–U.S. trade agreement approval, citing “tariff chaos” following President Donald Trump’s new 15% tariffs and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating his previous global tariff programme.
Further Iran-U.S. nuclear talks are scheduled in Geneva on Thursday (26 February) as diplomacy resumes over Tehran’s nuclear programme following earlier mediation efforts. But will the talks move Iran-U.S. negotiations closer to a deal, and what should be expected from the meeting?
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Iran announced on Saturday (21 February) that it has designated the naval and air forces of European Union member states as “terrorist entities” in a reciprocal move after the EU blacklisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said the bloc is unlikely to reach agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia at Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, as continued Hungarian opposition keeps consensus out of reach.
Further Iran-U.S. nuclear talks are scheduled in Geneva on Thursday (26 February) as diplomacy resumes over Tehran’s nuclear programme following earlier mediation efforts. But will the talks move Iran-U.S. negotiations closer to a deal, and what should be expected from the meeting?
China says it's making a "full assessment" of the U.S. Supreme Court's tariff ruling and urged Washington to lift "relevant unilateral tariff measures" on its trading partners, the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement on Monday (23 February).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A “Victory will be ours” banner was hung on the Russian Embassy in Seoul, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It remains on display despite a request from the South Korean Foreign Ministry on Sunday (22 February) for its removal, sparking widespread criticism.
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