North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with families of soldiers who died while supporting Russia in the conflict with Ukraine, expressing sympathy for their grief, according to state media on Saturday, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
No official count of casualties has been provided by Pyongyang, but estimates from Seoul suggest approximately 600 fatalities and thousands more wounded.
Reports from South Korean and Western intelligence indicate that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia in 2024, primarily to the Kursk region, along with artillery, missiles, and long-range rocket systems.
Kim delivered a speech to the families on Friday, as stated by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), following an earlier public ceremony where he honored some of the soldiers.
In his address, Kim reportedly said:
"I considered the families of other fallen soldiers who could not attend. That is why I arranged this meeting—to comfort them and ease their sorrow, even slightly."
He announced plans to build a monument in the capital and a new residential area for the bereaved families, while the state would fully support the soldiers' children.
"Seeing young children grieve is deeply painful," he said. "Our nation and military will take full responsibility for them, raising them to be as brave and resilient as their fathers."
North Korea first acknowledged sending troops to aid Russia in Ukraine in April, confirming that some had been killed in action.
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Three children were among the 24 injured in a Russian attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported. One person was killed.
According to a statement on Telegram, Ukrainian air defenses recorded five missile strikes and 24 drone impacts across seven locations, with debris hitting 21 sites.
The strikes left 25,000 residents without power, Fedorov said. Repairs were ongoing at damaged energy facilities.
Ukrainian railways confirmed that infrastructure damage in the Kyiv region had been repaired by early Saturday.
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Ukraine’s military announced strikes on two Russian oil refineries—Krasnodar and Syzran—overnight.
Explosions and a fire were reported at the Krasnodar refinery, which produces 3 million tons of fuel annually.
Russian officials confirmed that drone debris caused a fire spanning 300 square meters at the site.
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