North Korea Honors Soldiers Killed in Ukraine With New Housing District

North Korea said Monday it has completed a new residential district in Pyongyang for families of soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, in what appears to be leader Kim Jong Un’s latest effort to honor war casualties, according to state media reports cited by the Associated Press.

Photographs released by state outlets showed Kim touring the development—known as Saeppyol Street—and visiting the homes of several bereaved families with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who has taken on an increasingly visible public role. During the visit, Kim pledged to repay the “young martyrs” who he said “sacrificed all for their motherland.”

In recent months, North Korea has stepped up propaganda portraying troops deployed to support Russia’s war in Ukraine as national heroes. Measures have included the creation of a memorial wall and the construction of a museum dedicated to their service. Analysts say the campaign is likely intended to strengthen domestic unity and limit potential public dissatisfaction.

Kim has sent thousands of troops as well as large shipments of military equipment—including artillery and missiles—to support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s campaign in Ukraine, reflecting closer alignment between Pyongyang and Moscow as both confront ongoing tensions with Washington.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers last week that about 6,000 North Korean troops have been killed or wounded during deployments tied to the war, though it did not provide a breakdown of deaths versus injuries. The agency also assessed that North Korean forces are gaining modern combat experience and access to Russian technical support that could enhance the effectiveness of their weapons systems, lawmakers said after a closed-door briefing.

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