North Koreans Show Emotional Response to Kim Jong-un’s Public Display

North Korea ramps up propaganda efforts as soldier deaths in Russia mount, with Kim Jong-un seen weeping at ceremonies for the fallen.

North Korean authorities are intensifying propaganda campaigns glorifying soldiers who have died fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to sources within the country. The regime is portraying the deceased as national heroes while showcasing emotional footage of leader Kim Jong-un mourning their loss.

A female source from North Korea’s northern region reported in late September that state media is heavily promoting these narratives through education campaigns and public broadcasts aimed at fostering patriotic sentiment around what the government calls “heroes who sacrificed their lives for the fatherland.”

South Korean intelligence estimates approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers have died in combat since deployments began in October 2024. The total number of North Korean troops sent to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine has reportedly reached 15,000, marking one of the regime’s largest foreign military commitments in decades.

The North Korean government maintained silence about its military involvement in Ukraine until May 9, 2025, when Kim Jong-un finally acknowledged the deployment during a speech at the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang. This admission came months after Ukrainian authorities had already released numerous videos showing captured or killed North Korean soldiers on the battlefield, evidence that first appeared around November 2024.

By late June, North Korean state media began acknowledging casualties, releasing carefully choreographed footage showing Kim Jong-un kneeling beside flag-draped coffins, visibly emotional as he placed his hand on them. This marked a shift in the regime’s communications strategy, moving from denial to controlled narrative management around the mounting death toll.

The propaganda effort culminated in a televised ceremony on August 22, when Korean Central TV broadcast Kim Jong-un personally attaching medals below photographs of fallen soldiers. In another broadcast on August 30, Kim reportedly delivered a tearful address to bereaved families, praising the deceased as patriots who “received the fatherland’s orders and charged forward without fear of death.”

Military analysts note that North Korea’s direct involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict represents an unprecedented level of overseas military engagement for the isolated nation. The significant casualty rate—approximately 13% of deployed forces if South Korean estimates are accurate—raises questions about troop preparedness and combat conditions.

The public mourning ceremonies represent a notable shift in how the regime communicates about military losses, with Kim’s visible emotions likely calculated to transform potential public anger over the deaths into nationalist sentiment and support for the government’s policies.

International human rights organizations have expressed concern about the conditions under which North Korean soldiers are being deployed, with some reports suggesting they may have limited understanding of the conflict they’re entering or inadequate combat training for the high-intensity warfare in Ukraine.

For ordinary North Koreans, who receive tightly controlled information about world events, these propaganda campaigns may be their primary source of information about the country’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The state’s framing of these deaths as heroic sacrifices appears designed to preempt any domestic questioning of the decision to send troops to support Russia’s military campaign.

As casualties continue to mount, the regime’s propaganda machinery seems poised to continue this narrative of sacrifice and heroism, with Kim Jong-un positioned as a compassionate leader who personally shares in the nation’s grief while honoring its fallen soldiers.