This is Kim Jong Un’s latest effort to glorify North Korean soldiers who have died fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukraine.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inaugurated a new housing district in Pyongyang for the families of troops who died in overseas military operations, state news agency KCNA reported on Monday.
The new district symbolizes “spirit and sacrifice” of the dead troops, Kim said in a speech, adding that the homes would allow the bereaved families to “take pride in their sons and husbands and live happily.”
He further pledged to repay the “young martyrs” who “sacrificed all to their motherland.”
Images released by the news agency show the North Korean leader and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, consoling families of the fallen soldiers while visiting their new homes.
North Korea has sent around 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops against Ukraine. Over 6,000 of those soldiers were killed or wounded during their deployment in the war, as per South Korean, Ukrainian and Western estimates.
Kim seeks to appease public
Pyongyang has conducted several public ceremonies over the last few months to honor the fallen soldiers, including a museum and a memorial complex featuring sculptures of troops.
Analysts see the public ceremonies as a way to promote unity and quash potential public discontent stemming from lives lost in a foreign war.
The new housing district comes ahead fo the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, which will convene in late February.
The gathering is meant to showcase Kim’s achievements and outline his goals for domestic and foreign policy for the next five years.
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
DW News
