DPRK shows photos of soldiers sent to Russia to fight against Ukraine for the first time
Photo: North Korea shows for the first time photos of soldiers sent to Russia (news1.kr)
North Korea has for the first time released photos of soldiers sent to Russia. In the pictures, dictator Kim Jong Un is seen receiving the bodies of fallen soldiers, News1 reports.
According to the news agency, North Korea has intensified its propaganda campaign to internally justify the deployment of its troops. In particular, one of the DPRK’s newspapers reported that Kim Jong Un met with Russia’s Minister of Culture, Olga Lyubimova, who was visiting North Korea, and together they watched a theatrical performance.
In the published photos, it can be seen that during the performance, several images related to the North Korean troops sent to Kursk were displayed on a screen set up on the stage.
Specifically, a photograph was published showing Kim Jong Un kneeling before a coffin draped with the North Korean flag, wearing a somber expression. This is likely the coffin of a soldier who died in battle after being sent to Russia and was repatriated to his homeland.
Other published photos depicted armed North Korean soldiers waving the North Korean flag on the battlefield near Kursk. There was also an image showing soldiers from both sides gathered in front of the Russian and North Korean flags, seemingly emphasizing the close relationship between North Korea and Russia.
"Although it is unclear whether this was an actual combat scene or a training exercise, the large screen also displayed scenes of North Korean troops breaking through the frontline and engaging in firefights," the outlet writes.
How Russia is using North Korea in the war
Earlier reports stated that North Korea sent about 10,000 troops to Russia to support the war against Ukraine. The Russian forces deployed North Korean soldiers during combat operations in the Kursk region. At that time, some of these troops were killed or wounded.
Later, both North Korea and Russia confirmed the presence of North Korean forces and their participation in the Russian offensive aimed at regaining control over part of the Kursk region.
Additionally, as part of their cooperation, North Korea has supplied Russia with weapons and missiles used to strike Ukrainian cities, as well as technologies for their modernization.
