North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a solemn ceremony in Pyongyang to honor North Korean soldiers who died during combat operations in Ukraine. According to North Korean state television, Kim personally placed the national flag on the coffin of one of the fallen soldiers, underscoring the regime’s deep military solidarity with Russia. In a sign of the event’s importance, Kim was accompanied by Russia’s Minister of Culture, Olga Lyubimova.
As reported by Der Spiegel, the ceremony marked the anniversary of a bilateral military agreement between North Korea and the Russian Federation. This agreement, titled a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” includes a clause on mutual defense — effectively obligating both nations to assist one another in case of external threats.
600 Dead and Thousands Wounded
North Korea is increasingly becoming involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emerging as one of Moscow’s key allies. In April, Pyongyang officially confirmed the deployment of its soldiers and the delivery of weapons to support the Russian military. According to South Korean sources, North Korean units were spotted in Russia’s Kursk region, near the Ukrainian border, where they participated in offensive operations against Ukrainian forces.
South Korea’s Ministry of Defense reported that approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the fighting, with several thousand more injured. Nevertheless, Seoul has not yet detected any signs of further mobilization efforts by Pyongyang.
The ceremony in Pyongyang served not only as a national act of mourning but also as a public demonstration of the growing political and military alignment between North Korea and Russia. In essence, Kim Jong Un used the deaths of his soldiers as a symbol of a new “brotherhood in arms,” deliberately sending a strong international signal: Pyongyang is willing to shed blood for its alliance with Moscow.
A Propaganda Gesture Designed for Impact
According to Der Spiegel, the event was clearly propagandistic in nature. The presence of a high-ranking Russian official — the Minister of Culture — highlighted the symbolic importance of this alliance. Moscow and Pyongyang are not only deepening their military cooperation but are also actively working to legitimize their anti-Western axis on the world stage.
The ceremony is part of North Korea’s broader strategy to legitimize its role in the conflict and to demonstrate its commitment to following Moscow’s lead. It also serves as a domestic message: the deaths of hundreds of soldiers are portrayed as heroic sacrifices for an international cause and a grand alliance.
Thus, the partnership between two internationally isolated regimes is becoming increasingly visible — and bloody. By supplying not only ammunition but also troops, North Korea is strengthening Russia’s military position in the war against Ukraine — at the cost of its own people’s lives.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Der Spiegel. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Der Spiegel.
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