North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made a rare and highly symbolic public appearance at a memorial ceremony honouring soldiers reportedly deployed to fight alongside Russian forces in the ongoing Ukraine war.
In a short video circulating widely online, Kim is seen embracing grieving uniformed personnel and standing silently before portraits believed to represent fallen soldiers. Observers noted the North Korean leader’s unusually somber demeanour, marking a departure from his typically stoic public image.
North Korea is reported to have begun dispatching personnel to support Russia’s military efforts in late 2024. Various international sources estimate that more than 11,000 North Korean troops may have been deployed, with unverified reports suggesting that thousands have since died in the conflict.
Kim’s appearance at the ceremony appeared designed to underscore solidarity with what state-aligned narratives describe as “martyred” fighters. Analysts say the event reflects Pyongyang’s effort to frame its involvement in the war as both a strategic alliance and a patriotic sacrifice.
The footage has sparked widespread reactions online, with supporters highlighting Kim’s visible emotion as evidence of a personal bond with the soldiers. Some social media commentary contrasted the scene with the conduct of other global leaders, though such comparisons remain subjective and politically charged.
There has been no independent confirmation of the identities of those commemorated or the scale of North Korean casualties, and the North Korean government has not officially released detailed figures regarding troop deployments or losses.
The ceremony comes amid heightened international scrutiny of North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia, a partnership that has drawn criticism from Western governments and raised concerns about the widening scope of the Ukraine conflict.
