• Kim Jong Un expresses condolences to families of soldiers killed fighting for Russia.
• He promises "a beautiful life" for the bereaved families, pledging state support.
• Approximately 600 North Korean troops have reportedly died in the conflict according to South Korean intelligence.
• The meeting is part of Kim's ongoing efforts to console families and commemorate the fallen soldiers.
• Kim is set to meet with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at a military parade in China next week.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with the families of soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in the ongoing war against Ukraine, promising them "a beautiful life" and expressing deep condolences for their loss. During the meeting, which was reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim expressed his "grief at having failed to save the precious lives" of the fallen, referring to them as "martyrs" who sacrificed their lives to defend the country’s honor, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and TRT Global.

He assured the grieving families that the state would take full responsibility for their well-being, promising specific measures such as building a monument in Pyongyang and naming a street after the fallen soldiers. Kim stated, "My heart breaks and aches more at the sight of those little children," referring to the children of deceased soldiers, as reported by South China Morning Post, BBC, and India Times.

Reports indicate that North Korea has deployed around 15,000 soldiers to support Russia in Ukraine, with estimates suggesting approximately 600 troops have died, while Western intelligence estimates go as high as 6,000 casualties. Kim's meetings with these families are part of a concerted effort to honor the sacrifices of North Korean troops, who have faced considerable casualties, according to South China Morning Post, BBC, and Channel News Asia.

Additionally, Kim is set to join Russian President Vladimir Putin for a military parade in China, marking Japan's surrender in World War II. This meeting will be their third in two years, highlighting the strengthening military alliance between North Korea and Russia, as emphasized by Reuters and Al Jazeera.