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New York Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
In Rare Tribute to Slain Troops, Kim Jong-un Still Keeps Up Appearances
It was a sight unlike any most North Koreans had probably ever seen: their nation's leader, Kim Jong-un, looking somber and leaning over a coffin draped in their flag. The moment, as shown on state television, showed the remembrance of troops killed in Russia's war against Ukraine, a conflict in which Mr. Kim tried to parlay their sacrifices into expanding military ties with Moscow. The event, which Mr. Kim and his teenage daughter and potential successor, Kim Ju-ae, attended on Sunday with a Russian delegation, featured Russian and North Korean art performances in Pyongyang. Both governments organized events to celebrate the first anniversary of a treaty of mutual defense and cooperation that Mr. Kim signed with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. It was also an occasion for Mr. Kim to highlight the contributions North Korea has made to Russia's war against Ukraine by showing his people, for the first time, images of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces. North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 North Korean troops, as well as large shipments of artillery shells, missiles and other weapons, to aid Russia's war efforts, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and U.S. officials. North Korean troops were believed to have suffered 4,700 casualties, including 600 deaths, South Korean intelligence officials told Parliament in April. North Korea formally confirmed its troops' deployment and casualties in April when it promised a monument in their honor in Pyongyang, and flowers adorning 'the tombstones of the fallen soldiers.' But it was not until Monday that the North's state television aired footage to the wider public of its soldiers fighting in Russia's war and the arrival of caskets containing those who were killed. The images flashed in the backdrop of the stage as a female singer sang 'the heroes will live on in our hearts forever.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Kim Jong Un shown mourning North Korean soldiers he sent to die in Putin's war in Ukraine
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been shown grieving over the coffins of his soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, in an unusually public display acknowledging the regime's combat losses abroad. Images aired by state broadcaster Korean Central Television over the weekend showed Mr Kim placing both hands on coffins draped in the North Korean flag, during what appeared to be a repatriation ceremony. The scene formed part of a state-orchestrated gala in Pyongyang to mark the one-year anniversary of a military pact with Russia. Photographs from the event, held at East Pyongyang Grand Theatre and attended by Russian culture minister Olga Lyubimova, captured Mr Kim visibly emotional, standing alongside his teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae and senior party officials, including his influential sister Kim Yo Jong. The ceremony featured a backdrop of stirring music and wartime imagery, including what appeared to be a blood-stained notebook from a North Korean soldier retrieved from the battlefield in Russia's Kursk region, reported the Guardian. According to Yonhap news agency, phrases inside the notebook, reportedly read, 'The decisive moment has finally come' and 'Let us bravely fight this sacred battle with the boundless love and trust bestowed upon us by our beloved Supreme Commander', in an apparent reference to Mr Kim. Though state media did not disclose when the remains were returned, officials present were dressed in heavy winter clothing, suggesting the repatriation occurred months earlier. The North only confirmed the deployment of its soldiers to Russia's war effort in April, after months of denial. Since then, Pyongyang and Moscow have begun openly commemorating the troops' 'heroic' role in reclaiming the Kursk region, a strategically significant western Russian territory once contested by Ukrainian forces. Footage from the tribute also showed Mr Kim approving battlefield plans for Kursk on three dates last year – 22 October, 12 December, and 22 December – and issuing offensive orders to special operations units. A photograph of the document was displayed, portraying him as a central commander of military operations abroad. According to South Korea 's National Intelligence Service, North Korea has deployed an estimated 15,000 troops to Russia since late 2024, with approximately 600 killed and 4,700 wounded. The latest footage showed only a handful of coffins, prompting speculation that the ceremony was more symbolic than representative of the true scale of losses. Analysts suggest the performance was designed to bolster public support and frame the deployment as part of a victorious joint mission. 'North Korea probably wanted to frame the fallen soldiers not just as sacrifices but as part of a victory narrative,' Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told Yonhap. 'The footage appears to have been released after the two countries acknowledged the troop deployment.' Russian and North Korean spectators were seen weeping during the event, as KCNA news agency praised the show for affirming the 'ties of friendship and the genuine internationalist obligation between the peoples and armies of the two countries that were forged at the cost of blood'. North Korea has also reportedly supplied Russia with artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and other weapons, in exchange for satellite and missile technology as well as economic assistance. The military agreement signed between Mr Kim and Russian president Vladimir Putin in June 2024 includes a mutual defence clause. Despite North Korean media showcasing Mr Kim's apparent grief and leadership, only a small fraction of fallen soldiers were acknowledged publicly. The South Korean defence ministry said on Tuesday it had not observed signs of imminent new deployments but acknowledged reports that additional troops – engineers and construction personnel – may be sent as early as July or August. Mr Putin has twice visited the Kursk region since regaining control, and North Korean troops are believed to have played a significant role in reversing Ukrainian advances there. While North Korean troops suffered heavy losses initially, they have earned respect in the battlefield overtime, Rob Lee, a senior research fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told the Telegraph. Ukrainian officials Mr Lee spoke to 'had a pretty high opinion of the North Korean soldiers. They thought they're very physically fit, very tough, pretty competent'. 'Tactically, they were employed, I think, poorly by the Russians,' he said. 'But at the squad level, they have pretty good tactics, good marksmanship, and they don't surrender.'
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Watch: Kim Jong-un weeps over soldiers killed fighting for Putin
Credit: Reuters Kim Jong-un appeared to weep during a ceremony honouring North Korean soldiers who died while fighting alongside the Russian army. The North Korean dictator had tears in his eyes as he watched footage of the battlefield in an operatic show marking the one-year anniversary of Pyongyang's defence pact with Moscow. On a giant screen behind an orchestra, images were shown of Kim kneeling and placing his hands on a coffin draped in the North Korean flag. He gulped and breathed rapidly in the footage broadcast on state media. In separate clips, the 41-year-old was seen approving plans for North Korean military operations in Russia's Kursk region, where they deployed late last year to help Moscow drive out a Ukrainian bridgehead. The ceremony on Sunday came days after Kim inaugurated a new seaside resort, watching on as a citizen whizzed off the end of a curved water slide. Then he was accompanied on the weekend by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, who stood and applauded as a singer performed on stage in front of images of North Korean soldiers and tanks bearing the 'Z' symbol. According to the British Ministry of Defence, around 6,000 North Koreans have been killed or wounded while fighting in the Kursk region. Analysts said Kim's public acknowledgement of the cost of the operation may have been intended to soothe public discontent, although only six coffins were shown in the ceremony. North Korea's supreme leader was shown approving plans for Kursk on three dates: October 22, December 12 and December 22 last year. Local media reports said he had issued 'offensive operations orders to special operations units', casting him rather than Moscow as directly responsible for their instructions. Vladimir Putin visited Kursk after Russia's army pushed the Ukrainian army out of its foothold in the country, which once spanned roughly 1000 square kilometres. North Korean soldiers initially suffered huge casualties as they charged at the Ukrainian lines across open fields. But they proved themselves on the battlefield over time, said Rob Lee, a senior research fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. 'It is an open question, if North Korea was not taking part, what the position of Kursk would be right now,' he said on the Russia Contingency podcast in March. 'Without them, [the Ukrainians] could probably have held the pocket longer.' Ukrainian officials Mr Lee spoke to 'had a pretty high opinion of the North Korean soldiers. They thought they're very physically fit, very tough, pretty competent'. 'Tactically, they were employed, I think, poorly by the Russians. But at the squad level, they have pretty good tactics, good marksmanship, and they don't surrender.' South Korea's National Intelligence said last Thursday that Pyongyang may deploy an additional 6,000 troops to support Moscow. Sergei Shoigu, a close ally of Putin, said that 5,000 construction personnel and 1,000 mine removal engineers would be dispatched this summer. Last year, Kim signed a mutual defence pact with Moscow, agreeing to send missiles, ammunition and troops to the battlefield. In return, South Korea's intelligence agency says that Pyongyang is likely receiving technical advice on satellite launches and missile guidance systems. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Watch: Kim Jong-un weeps over soldiers killed fighting for Putin
Kim Jong-un appeared to weep during a ceremony honouring North Korean soldiers who died while fighting alongside the Russian army. The North Korean dictator had tears in his eyes as he watched footage of the battlefield in an operatic show marking the one-year anniversary of Pyongyang's defence pact with Moscow. On a giant screen behind an orchestra, images were shown of Kim kneeling and placing his hands on a coffin draped in the North Korean flag. He gulped and breathed rapidly in the footage broadcast on state media. In separate clips, the 41-year-old was seen approving plans for North Korean military operations in Russia's Kursk region, where they deployed late last year to help Moscow drive out a Ukrainian bridgehead. The ceremony on Sunday came days after Kim inaugurated a new seaside resort, watching on as a citizen whizzed off the end of a curved water slide. Then he was accompanied on the weekend by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, who stood and applauded as a singer performed on stage in front of images of North Korean soldiers and tanks bearing the 'Z' symbol. According to the British Ministry of Defence, around 6,000 North Koreans have been killed or wounded while fighting in the Kursk region. Analysts said Kim's public acknowledgement of the cost of the operation may have been intended to soothe public discontent, although only six coffins were shown in the ceremony. North Korea 's supreme leader was shown approving plans for Kursk on three dates: October 22, December 12 and December 22 last year. Local media reports said he had issued 'offensive operations orders to special operations units', casting him rather than Moscow as directly responsible for their instructions. 'An open question' Vladimir Putin visited Kursk after Russia's army pushed the Ukrainian army out of its foothold in the country, which once spanned roughly 1000 square kilometres. North Korean soldiers initially suffered huge casualties as they charged at the Ukrainian lines across open fields. But they proved themselves on the battlefield over time, said Rob Lee, a senior research fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. 'It is an open question, if North Korea was not taking part, what the position of Kursk would be right now,' he said on the Russia Contingency podcast in March. 'Without them, [the Ukrainians] could probably have held the pocket longer.' Ukrainian officials Mr Lee spoke to 'had a pretty high opinion of the North Korean soldiers. They thought they're very physically fit, very tough, pretty competent '. 'Tactically, they were employed, I think, poorly by the Russians. But at the squad level, they have pretty good tactics, good marksmanship, and they don't surrender.' South Korea's National Intelligence said last Thursday that Pyongyang may deploy an additional 6,000 troops to support Moscow. Sergei Shoigu, a close ally of Putin, said that 5,000 construction personnel and 1,000 mine removal engineers would be dispatched this summer. Last year, Kim signed a mutual defence pact with Moscow, agreeing to send missiles, ammunition and troops to the battlefield. In return, South Korea's intelligence agency says that Pyongyang is likely receiving technical advice on satellite launches and missile guidance systems.
The Independent
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Kim Jong Un watches swimmers use waterslide as North Korea opens huge beach resort to boost tourism
Kim Jong Un has unveiled a beach resort equipped with water slides, hotels, restaurants and shopping centres in a move to promote tourism. The North Korean leader was seen relaxing poolside next to his daughter and presumed heir Kim Ju Ae with a pack of cigarettes, cold drink and towel at the east coast Wonsan-Kalma retreat. It can accommodate up to 20,000 visitors, occupying a 4km (2.5 mile) stretch of beach, according to North Korea state media KCNA. Footage shared by state media showed Kim inspecting the grounds from a terrace several storeys above sea level, as he smiled and talked to officials. State media said the Wonsan-Kalma site would be 'recorded as one of the greatest successes this year' and 'should play a leading role in establishing the tourist culture' of North Korea. Russia 's ambassador in Pyongyang was in attendance as chief guest as Kim opened the sprawling complex, state media reported. Tourism remains one of the few ways North Korea can legally earn foreign currency since most of its economic activities are restricted by UN sanctions. However, Pyongyang's tourism industry is tightly controlled and designed to showcase a sanitised version of the country. The opening ceremony was held 'with splendor', state media reported, and Kim expressed "great satisfaction" at the development of the project. The Wonsan-Kalma resort was the first step in developing cultural tourism in the country, he said, and the government would soon confirm a major plan to develop more large-scale tourist areas. 'Kim Jong Un expressed belief that the wave of happiness to be raised in the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone would enhance its attractive name as a world-level tourist cultural resort, KCNA said. The beach resort was first announced in 2014 and construction started in 2018, with an initial finish deadline of 2019. The construction came to a standstill during the 2020 pandemic as the country sealed its borders while international sanctions and material supply issues exacerbated delays. North Korea started loosening the restrictions in 2023 after three years of almost no tourism, with no foreign visitors allowed in and limited information coming out. The country is yet to fully lift the ban on foreign tourists it imposed in early 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. From February 2024 it has been accepting Russian tourists amid the deepening relations between the two countries. But Chinese group tours remain stalled, despite making up more than 90 per cent of visitors before the pandemic. In April, North Korea held the Pyongyang International Marathon for the first time in six years, with about 200 foreign runners participating. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Seoul, said South Korean and American tours to North Korea won't likely restart anytime soon, though both new liberal South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump have expressed hopes to revive dialogue with North Korea. In January when Trump boasted about his ties with Kim, he said 'I think he has tremendous condo capabilities. He's got a lot of shoreline,' a likely reference to Wonsan-Kalma. North Korea hasn't publicly responded to Trump's outreach. It has repeatedly rejected Washington and Seoul's dialogue offers and focused on expanding its nuclear weapons program since Kim's high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with the US president collapsed in 2019.
