North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently visited the construction site of a memorial in Pyongyang dedicated to the North’s soldiers who lost their lives in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Kim, along with his wife Ri Sol-ju and daughter Ju-ae, participated in the tree planting ceremony at the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations. The state media images captured Ju-ae assisting her father in the tree planting activity.
Kim Jong-un praised the sacrifice made by North Korean troops, emphasizing that their contribution would be a lasting foundation supporting the strength of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Last year, Kim honored soldiers who supported Russia in the war and announced plans to construct a special street in Pyongyang to commemorate their bravery. The construction of the museum began in October, marking the first such memorial in North Korea for soldiers killed in foreign conflicts.
The memorial is significant as North Korea had deployed over 10,000 troops and weapons to aid Russia in the war effort, resulting in casualties among the North Korean forces. In a separate event, North Korea conducted a successful test launch of hypersonic missiles in Pyongyang under the supervision of Kim Jong-un. The missile drill aimed to assess the country’s defense capabilities and the effectiveness of its weapon systems, as well as to demonstrate readiness for potential missions.
