North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un cries for the soldiers who died in Russia's war against Ukraine, apparently preparing the population for the sending of more fighters.
Something quite unusual happened in Pyongyang recently. Kim Jong-un knelt in front of the portraits of 101 North Korean soldiers who died in Russia's war against Ukraine. He pinned decorations to the photos on the wall and hugged the relatives of the dead.
With these images from August 21, the North Korean regime publicly confirmed its participation in the war. The memorial ceremony also included soldiers from a unit that fought for Russia in the Kursk region.
Kim honored the dead as "great heroes, patriots and martyrs". His heart ached as he looked at the photos. "I really don't know how to express my remorse and apology to the relatives of the dead - for not being able to protect their precious young lives," Kim said, even though he himself had sent the men to Russia. The returning soldiers and officers were awarded medals.
In the name of "long-standing alliance with Russia"
The regime used the mourning ceremony to justify sending troops to Russia. The soldiers were sent in response to Moscow's request and contributed to the friendship between the two nations. Kim emphasized the "long-standing alliance with Russia" including a visit to the Russian embassy in Pyongyang. Moscow, in turn, provided propaganda support for the regime - President Vladimir Putin sent a thank-you statement, which was distributed by North Korean media. During the military parade on Red Square in May, Putin hugged a North Korean general under whose command the soldiers were.
According to unofficial data from South Korea and the United States, North Korea has so far sent between 14,000 and 15,000 soldiers to Russia. It has also delivered millions of artillery shells, dozens of self-propelled guns and hundreds of short-range missiles. The two countries have long refused to confirm this cooperation. The North Korean military had imposed an information blackout. The death certificates of the deceased indicated "military training" as the cause of their death.
However, on April 28, the party newspaper "Rodong Sinmun" suddenly praised the "heroism" of North Korean soldiers in Russia on its front page. Two days earlier, the chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, had publicly mentioned North Korea"s "significant assistance" for the first time. Then, in late June, North Korean television showed dictator Kim Jong-un visibly upset as he touched the coffins of fallen soldiers brought back from Russia.
Up to 30,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia?
Thanks to the announcement of the military mission, Kim can now more easily send further contingents to Russia. The population is already prepared for the fact that some of the soldiers will return in coffins. According to the Russian state news agency TASS, former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during a visit to North Korea on June 17 that the country would send another 6,000 construction troops to clear mines and rebuild destroyed infrastructure in the Kursk region.
In addition, according to Ukrainian intelligence sources, North Korea is preparing to send an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers to participate in the fighting. According to some experts, this number is too high, but it can be reached, since we are not talking about elite fighters. Jenny Town, head of the Korea program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, believes that it is more realistic for the soldiers to be between 10,000 and 20,000. The number depends on Russia's needs, and Kim will provide enough fighters because he has promised Putin his full support. There are also rumors that Russian generals are in North Korea to train local soldiers, the expert says.
Kim's regime is gaining a lot
There are certainly domestic political reasons for the footage of the mourning ceremony. Even in a totalitarian dictatorship that isolates itself from unfiltered information like no other country, the sending of soldiers can no longer be hidden. "Rumors about the real number of victims are spreading, public discontent is growing", East Asia expert Kang Woo from "Boston College" told DW. According to estimates by South Korean secret services, North Korea lost 600 soldiers in Russia, and 4,100 were wounded.
In late April, Kim responded to public concerns by erecting a monument to the fallen soldiers in Pyongyang. "This gesture puts the soldiers on a par with North Koreans who died in World War II fighting against Japan and in the Korean War," Wu stressed. Kim also apparently granted the families of the victims the privilege of moving to the capital, which is seen as an attempt to appease them.
Given the great benefits he receives, Kim cannot afford not to send more soldiers to Russia. His units are gaining valuable combat experience in the most advanced warfare of the 21st century, testing their weapons systems in front-line conditions, and gaining access to Russian military technology. Sending fighters also brings financial benefits to Kim - according to unconfirmed information from South Korean intelligence, the regime receives $2,000 a month for each soldier sent. In addition, the North Korean ruler can, despite the UN embargo, provide for the party and military elite in Pyongyang thanks to Russian supplies of oil and food.