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North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un stated that nine soldiers lost their lives during a 120-day mission, and state honors were bestowed upon members of the fallen engineering unit. Some returning troops appeared wounded and in wheelchairs. Kim praised their efforts in a speech, highlighting that they wrote “letters to their hometowns and villages during breaks from mine clearance.”
Kim emphasized the bravery of the soldiers, noting their achievement in transforming a dangerous zone into a secure area in less than three months. Photos from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) show Kim in a joyful embrace with returning soldiers, many visibly injured or in wheelchairs. At the ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers by kneeling before a portrait of the deceased and placing medals and flowers beside their images. He reflected on the “pain of waiting” for 120 days, never forgetting the valiant sons.
In September, Kim joined China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin at a grand military parade in Beijing. He opted not to accept an invitation from former U.S. President Donald Trump to meet during his Asia tour in October. North Korea officially acknowledged in April that it had deployed troops to support Russia, with some soldiers killed in action. Previously, in August, images showed Kim emotionally honoring coffins of fallen soldiers and embracing a returned soldier who appeared overwhelmed.
Throughout this period, Kim’s emotional engagement with returning troops and families underscores the significance of their sacrifice amidst ongoing international tensions.
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