State media recently aired footage of Kim Jong-un becoming visibly emotional, expressing sorrow over North Korean forces reportedly killed while fighting for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The video, reported by Korean Central Television, featured Kim displaying the North Korean flag during a cultural performance at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre. This event marked the first anniversary of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” agreement with Moscow.
While viewing the performance, Foreign Minister Jo Sung Hui was seen beside Kim, who pressed her lips shut tightly, seemingly engaged in the moment.
Other broadcast images showed North Korean soldiers alongside Russian troops, as well as a blood-stained notebook found in the battlegrounds of Russia’s Kursk region. The notebook allegedly contained the message, “The decisive moment has finally come.”
Korean media also reported that the ceremony included Russian Minister of Culture, Olga Libimova, and there were instances where tears were observed, both on Kim’s face and in the audience. This seemed to convey a shared sense of grief and pride during the performance.
According to analyst Hong Min from the Korea Institute of Unification, these images were likely curated to construct a “victory story” narrative surrounding the joint military efforts in Ukraine.
