North Korea Commemorates 101 Soldiers Killed in Ukraine War

(MENAFN) North Korea publicly paid tribute to 101 soldiers who lost their lives while deployed alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict, with leader Kim Jong Un hailing them as “great heroes,” according to state media reports Friday.

Kim personally placed flowers at a memorial wall featuring 101 portraits of the fallen soldiers.

“All the participants in the overseas operations who performed great feats to be recorded in the history of the country for its eternal prosperity and mightiness are all great men, great heroes and great patriots,” Kim declared.

It remains unclear whether all those commemorated died in direct combat with Ukrainian forces.

In April, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) informed lawmakers that at least 600 North Korean troops had been killed fighting alongside Russian units in Ukraine. The agency further estimated that Pyongyang has likely sustained over 4,700 casualties since its military involvement began.

Last year, North Korea and Russia forged a broad strategic partnership, agreeing to provide mutual military assistance if either faces an attack from a third party.

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