North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly acknowledged and paid tribute to North Korean soldiers who fought and died supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. State media released images showing Kim awarding medals to returning troops, attending funerals, and embracing grieving family members, including children of the fallen soldiers. The ceremonies, held in Pyongyang, featured 101 portraits of identified deceased soldiers. South Korean intelligence estimates that approximately 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to the conflict, primarily in Russia's Kursk region, with around 600 casualties reported. Kim praised the troops as "heroic" and expressed visible emotion, including tears, during the memorial events. This marks a rare official admission by Pyongyang of its military involvement and losses in the Ukraine war.