North Korean leader Kim Jong Un openly acknowledged battlefield losses in Ukraine, a rare move from Pyongyang, CNN reported.
At a ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim honored soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region, saying his “heart aches” for the fallen. He met grieving families, pinned badges on photos of the dead, and called the unit “a heroic army.”
North Korea's Kim Jong Un decorates soldiers who fought for Russia, KCNA says https://t.co/wnkCXqfm1J
— The Straits Times (@straits_times) August 21, 2025
North Korea began sending troops and equipment to support Russia in 2024 after Kim’s meetings with Vladimir Putin. U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence estimate around 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia, with plans to send an additional 25,000–30,000.
Analysts note Kim’s remarks mark one of the first public acknowledgments of casualties, highlighting the heavy toll on Pyongyang’s forces as it deepens its role in Moscow’s war.
