Kim Jong-un opens housing complex for families of soldiers killed overseas

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over an opening ceremony for a new housing complex in Pyongyang for families of soldiers who died in military action overseas, the Korean Central News Agency reported, citing Reuters.

In his speech, Kim said the new complex symbolized the "spirit and sacrifice" of the fallen soldiers, adding that the new housing would allow the bereaved families to "be proud of their sons and fathers and live happily".

Kim also said he had insisted on completing the project "even one day earlier" in the hope of bringing "at least a little comfort" to the families of the dead.

Under a mutual defense treaty with Russia, North Korea sent nearly 14,000 of its soldiers to fight in Ukraine in 2024, where more than 6,000 of them lost their lives, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western sources, Reuters reports.

North Korea has held numerous memorial ceremonies in recent months to commemorate the dead, including the opening of a memorial complex in the capital Pyongyang praising the soldiers' sacrifice, Reuters notes.