Kim Jong Un honors North Korean troops killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has paid tribute to North Korean soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to footage aired on North Korea’s state television on Tuesday.

The footage shows Kim in tears as he lays the national flag over the coffin of one of the fallen soldiers during a ceremony in Pyongyang. Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova attended the event.

The ceremony, held on June 29, marked the anniversary of the signing of a military pact between Pyongyang and Moscow, which includes provisions for mutual defense assistance.

In April, Pyongyang confirmed it had deployed troops and sent weapons to Russia.

According to South Korea’s Defense Ministry, around 600 North Korean troops were killed and thousands injured during fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.

The ministry said on Tuesday that it sees “no current signs” of further mobilization of North Korean forces.