By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sunday awarded commendations to the North Korean troops deployed to Russia’s war with Ukraine, called them “great heroes and patriots,” and consoled bereaved families of fallen soldiers, state media reported.
According to the Korean Central News Agency reported that the DPRK held a ceremony to decorate commanders and combatants of the overseas operation unit of the Korean People’s Army who returned home from the battlefield.
It marked the first time that North Korea has awarded commendation to its soldiers who fought overseas.
Kim lauded troops deployed to the front-line Kursk region as “great heroes and patriots” in his speech at the ceremony held at the headquarters of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.
“The victory won by the brave soldiers who participated in the war is a great feat that firmly defended the great honour of the KPA, which should never be undermined, and provided a sure guarantee for the existence and development of our state,” Kim said.
He said the bravery shown by North Korean troops affirmed that an army from any country cannot avoid the fate of becoming “dead souls” if it fights against the North’s military.
North Korea has provided conventional weapons and around 13,000 troops to support Russia’s war efforts amid deepening bilateral military cooperation, media reported.
Leader Kim in his speech brought up the “victorious conclusion” of overseas military operations but stopped short of disclosing the timing of withdrawing North Korean soldiers fighting in the front-line Kursk region.
He awarded the title of “DPRK Hero” to commanders and service members for their “distinguished” feats on the battlefield, the KCNA said.
He put the DPRK Hero medals beside the portraits of “martyrs,” who sacrificed their youth and lives for the war. Photos carried by state media showed Kim stroking the portraits hanging on the “memorial wall” at the party’s headquarters.
A total of 101 portraits of the war dead were seen on the wall, but the KCNA did not mention whether they are all of those killed during combat.
South Korea’s spy agency said in April that around 600 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been killed while fighting for Russia, and more than 4,000 North Korean troops have also been injured.
Kim also hugged some of the bereaved family members to console them, photos published by the KCNA showed, in an apparent bid to highlight the image of a leader caring for the people.
He called for the KPA to become “elite and strong” armed forces and for “perfecting” preparations for war against “military provocation” moves by the enemies as he decorated the overseas military operation unit.
“This environment gives no room to lower our guard and requires our army’s further perfect and overwhelming preparations (for war),” he said.
Seoul’s unification ministry said Thursday that Kim’s separate meeting the previous day appears aimed at “justifying the troop deployment and boosting morale” of the military.
Chang Yoon-jeong, deputy spokesperson at the ministry, told a press briefing that North Korea appears to have disclosed the names and photos of its troops deployed to the Russia-Ukraine war for the first time.
She said the ministry will closely monitor the situation to judge whether North Korea has ended the deployment of troops to Russia, media reported.
The ceremony came after expectations that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, may hold a summit for a peace deal to end the three years of fighting.
Russia’s media reported the North will send 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Kursk to support reconstruction efforts.
