Latest news with #militarytreaty
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Kim Jong-un pays rare public tribute to North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine
Kim Jong-un has paid tribute to North Korean soldiers killed during Russia's war with Ukraine, resting his hands on their repatriated coffins in a rare public acknowledgment that his armed forces have suffered fatalities in the conflict. Photographs of the North Korean leader pausing in front of a line of half a dozen coffins draped in the country's flag were displayed on a screen at a gala performance held on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of a military treaty between the North and Russia. The event at East Pyongyang Grand Theatre combined performances by North Korean and visiting Russian artists with images celebrating a mutual defence pact agreed by Kim and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in Pyongyang in June last year. The scenes showing Kim and the remains of fallen soldiers followed those of troops from both countries waving their national flags. One image purportedly showed pages from a blood-stained notebook, believed to have belonged to a North Korean soldier, that had been retrieved from a battlefield in Russia's Kursk region. According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, the messages in the notebook 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' – a reference to Kim. It was not immediately clear when the repatriation ceremony took place. Kim and other officials, including his influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, and the foreign minister, Choe Son-hui, are wearing winter clothing, suggesting that the soldiers' remains may have been returned to the North several months ago. Having denied for months that North Korean soldiers had been sent to fight alongside Russian forces, the regime is now attempting to put a positive spin on its involvement in the Ukraine conflict. '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' and declared their joint operation to reclaim the Kursk region in western Russia a success, Hong added. Footage of the gala broadcast by North Korea's state KRT television showed Kim, who appeared emotional at times, sitting alongside his guest, the Russian culture minister, Olga Lyubimova, and his daughter, Kim Ju-ae. People in the audience were shown wiping away tears. The Korea Herald said the event was the first time state media had shown footage and photos of soldiers sent to Russia that can be seen by North Korean citizens. The state-run KCNA news agency said the event had inspired confidence in 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'. In April, Putin and Kim confirmed for the first time that North Korean troops had been deployed, with both leaders describing them as 'heroes'. Kim said at the time that a monument would be built in Pyongyang to honour his soldiers, and that flowers would be laid before the tombstones of those who had died – seen as the first public confirmation by the regime that its troops had been killed in combat. The North has sent an estimated 15,000 troops to fight in the war since last autumn. It has suffered about 4,700 casualties, including 600 deaths, South Korean lawmakers said in April, while Seoul's intelligence agency recently claimed that additional deployments could come in July or August. North Korea has also provided Russia with large quantities of ammunition, artillery shells, ballistic missiles and other weapons, reportedly in return for weapons and satellite technology, and economic and other assistance from the Kremlin.
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Kim Jong-un pays rare public tribute to North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine
Kim Jong-un has paid tribute to North Korean soldiers killed during Russia's war with Ukraine, resting his hands on their repatriated coffins in a rare public acknowledgment that his armed forces have suffered fatalities in the conflict. Photographs of the North Korean leader pausing in front of a line of half a dozen coffins draped in the country's flag were displayed on a screen at a gala performance held on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of a military treaty between the North and Russia. The event at East Pyongyang Grand Theatre combined performances by North Korean and visiting Russian artists with images celebrating a mutual defence pact agreed by Kim and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in Pyongyang in June last year. The scenes showing Kim and the remains of fallen soldiers followed those of troops from both countries waving their national flags. One image purportedly showed pages from a blood-stained notebook, believed to have belonged to a North Korean soldier, that had been retrieved from a battlefield in Russia's Kursk region. According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, the messages in the notebook 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' – a reference to Kim. It was not immediately clear when the repatriation ceremony took place. Kim and other officials, including his influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, and the foreign minister, Choe Son-hui, are wearing winter clothing, suggesting that the soldiers' remains may have been returned to the North several months ago. Having denied for months that North Korean soldiers had been sent to fight alongside Russian forces, the regime is now attempting to put a positive spin on its involvement in the Ukraine conflict. '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' and declared their joint operation to reclaim the Kursk region in western Russia a success, Hong added. Footage of the gala broadcast by North Korea's state KRT television showed Kim, who appeared emotional at times, sitting alongside his guest, the Russian culture minister, Olga Lyubimova, and his daughter, Kim Ju-ae. People in the audience were shown wiping away tears. The Korea Herald said the event was the first time state media had shown footage and photos of soldiers sent to Russia that can be seen by North Korean citizens. The state-run KCNA news agency said the event had inspired confidence in 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'. In April, Putin and Kim confirmed for the first time that North Korean troops had been deployed, with both leaders describing them as 'heroes'. Kim said at the time that a monument would be built in Pyongyang to honour his soldiers, and that flowers would be laid before the tombstones of those who had died – seen as the first public confirmation by the regime that its troops had been killed in combat. The North has sent an estimated 15,000 troops to fight in the war since last autumn. It has suffered about 4,700 casualties, including 600 deaths, South Korean lawmakers said in April, while Seoul's intelligence agency recently claimed that additional deployments could come in July or August. North Korea has also provided Russia with large quantities of ammunition, artillery shells, ballistic missiles and other weapons, reportedly in return for weapons and satellite technology, and economic and other assistance from the Kremlin.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Korea's Kim seen draping coffins with flag at Russia treaty anniversary
SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea's state media showed on Monday leader Kim Jong Un draping coffins with the national flag in what appeared to be the repatriation of soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, as the countries marked a landmark military treaty. In a series of photographs displayed in the backdrop of a gala performance by North Korean and visiting Russian artists in Pyongyang, Kim is seen by rows of a half a dozen coffins, covering them with flags and pausing briefly with both hands resting on them. The scene followed images of North Korean and Russian soldiers waving their national flags with patriotic notes written in Korean. Kim is seen at the gala seemingly overcome with emotion and audience members wiping away tears. North Korea's state KRT television aired the performance, which was attended by Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova who is leading a delegation to mark the first anniversary of the strategic partnership treaty as Kim's guest. The performance was enthusiastically received for inspiring confidence in 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," KCNA news agency said. Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the strategic partnership treaty in June last year in Pyongyang. It includes a mutual defence pact. After months of silence, the two countries have disclosed the deployment of North Korean troops and lauded the "heroic" role they played in Moscow's offensive against Ukraine to reclaim the Kursk region in western Russia.
Al Arabiya
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
North Korea's Kim seen draping coffins with flag at Russia treaty anniversary
North Korea's state media showed on Monday leader Kim Jong Un draping coffins with the national flag in what appeared to be the repatriation of soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, as the countries marked a landmark military treaty. In a series of photographs displayed in the backdrop of a gala performance by North Korean and visiting Russian artists in Pyongyang, Kim is seen by rows of a half a dozen coffins, covering them with flags and pausing briefly with both hands resting on them. The scene followed images of North Korean and Russian soldiers waving their national flags with patriotic notes written in Korean. Kim is seen at the gala seemingly overcome with emotion and audience members wiping away tears. North Korea's state KRT television aired the performance, which was attended by Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova who is leading a delegation to mark the first anniversary of the strategic partnership treaty as Kim's guest. The performance was enthusiastically received for inspiring confidence in 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,' KCNA news agency said. Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the strategic partnership treaty in June last year in Pyongyang. It includes a mutual defence pact. After months of silence, the two countries have disclosed the deployment of North Korean troops and lauded the 'heroic' role they played in Moscow's offensive against Ukraine to reclaim the Kursk region in western Russia.
Reuters
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Poland and France commit to helping each other in case of military threat
WARSAW, May 9 (Reuters) - Poland and France will sign a treaty on Friday in which they will commit to helping each other in the event of a military threat, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. The treaty will be signed amid security concerns in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which borders Poland, and amid European doubts about U.S. President Donald Trump's long-term commitment to the continent's security. The treaty, which the two countries will sign in the French city of Nancy, covers topics including defence, energy, nuclear, and transport matters. "The provision that we have in the treaty in the event of a threat of attacks on Poland and France, both countries commit to provide assistance, including military assistance," Tusk told reporters before leaving for France. "From my experience, the provisions of the treaty are groundbreaking from the point of view of our safety." Tusk said the new treaty opens up opportunities for cooperation on a potential extension of the French nuclear umbrella to cover Poland. Tusk said the Polish-French agreement was not an "alternative" to Poland's relations with the United States. "We need both America and a strong European Union, also in terms of military," he said. Tusk also said the two countries would undertake joint initiatives aimed at bringing peace to Ukraine, but gave no details.
