Kim Jong Un honors families of troops killed with Russia in Ukraine

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met this week with the families of troops his government says died fighting alongside Russian forces in the war in Ukraine, offering condolences, promising state support and presiding over a public ceremony in Pyongyang that state media said honoured more than 100 fallen soldiers. The event, held at the April 25 House of Culture on Friday, Aug. 22 according to official reports, included emotional scenes of Kim embracing bereaved relatives and veterans, placing medals and flowers beside portraits of the dead, and pledging a monument, a street name and material support for the children of the fallen.

State media and the Korean Central News Agency quoted Kim as saying he felt "grief at having failed to save the precious lives" of soldiers who died "defending the country's honour" and promising the nation would provide "a beautiful life" for their families. Images released by state television showed Kim comforting sobbing children and veterans, kneeling before portraits of the dead and at times appearing to wipe away tears. Officials also staged a separate public ceremony last week to award state commendations to the commander and combatants of what...