Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 5, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleKim Jong Un and his daughter visited a memorial for North Korean soldiers who died in Russia. Over 6,000 soldiers were killed in Ukraine, praised by Kim for their loyalty.
SEOUL, Jan 6 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae on Monday inspected the construction of a memorial for North Korean troops who died fighting overseas, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.
Under a mutual defence pact with Russia, in 2024 North Korea sent some 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, where more than 6,000 of them were killed, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western sources.
Kim described the dead soldiers as "heroes ... who sacrificed themselves without hesitation", saying "no one in the world can overcome such an army that is absolutely loyal to the orders of the party".
He took part in tree-planting for the memorial with Ju Ae, who wore a red muffler while shoveling earth with her father, KCNA photos showed.
Meanwhile, a photo exhibition detailing North Korea's progress under Kim opened in Pyongyang as the country gears up for a key party congress to be held soon, KCNA said.
(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
A memorial is a structure or monument established to honor and remember individuals who have died, often commemorating their contributions or sacrifices.
A tree-planting ceremony is an event where individuals plant trees to commemorate a special occasion or honor a person or group. It symbolizes growth, remembrance, and environmental stewardship.
A photo exhibition is a public display of photographs, often organized around a specific theme or subject, showcasing the work of photographers to an audience.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
