- In October 2024, Russia received a contingent from North Korea in a force of about 12,000 soldiers. It is estimated that more than 30% have already been killed or severely injured
- Families cannot organize authoritative funerals, and the dead do not receive posthumous awards. Everything happens “in silence” and unofficially
- Participation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine is taboo in North Korean media
- Closers get cremated bodies of the dead on the front. Sometimes soldiers' families don't get their remains, due to the fact that frequently Kim Jong Un's soldiers wear fake dog tags
- More akin messages can be found on the Onetu homepage
North Korea's support to Russia during the invasion of Ukraine is simply a secret in Kim Jong Un's country. Many soldiers didn't know they were going to the front, not to practice.. In interior propaganda, the subject is absent. government media hasn't said a word about it so far.
— As long as it is simply a secret, Kim Jong Un cannot officially honor the posthumous medals of fellow countrymen who have fallen in battles. So far in North Korea, it's been that all patriot who died was awarded a posthumous state medal. According to NK News podcast Colin Zwirko, North Korea expert.
What does the North Korean government say to families who died in Russia?
There is no authoritative evidence of North Korea's failure in Russia, so it is essential to trust on speculation and intelligence from Western states. According to the American Institute of War Studies As of December, 92 Koreans die statistically all day.
In practice, this means that for a period Asians lose 2.8 1000 people. another estimates propose that thousands to 4 1000 North Korean soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
— If there are hundreds of dead, you gotta explain it and tell it to their relatives and loved ones. We do not know what the government is telling them, or whether it is telling the fact or lying. He can besides arrange the silence of his loved ones by offering them any benefits and gratuities, suggests Zwirko.
The cremated remains of soldiers return to North Korea
One of the high-ranking North Korean soldiers told the regular NK portal how the dead were treated.
— Basically, soldiers' bodies are never returned to families. Only their cremated remains return home. However, we are not always able to prepare the body rapidly for transport, reports the military.
PAP/EP/ PAPNorth Korean soldiers during a military parade
Kim Jong Un's “secret funerals”
As the portal adds, sometimes families of the deceased do not receive the remains of their loved ones, due to the fact that Kim Jong Un's soldiers frequently wear fake dog tags. It is besides unclear what happens to bodies that are brought into the country.
— I think families can organize their funerals. Of course, not completely undisclosed, due to the fact that it cannot be done in this way, but not officially. Such things are not publicized “ Zwirko convinces.
North Korean troops began to go to Russia in October 2024, They are presently fighting against Ukrainian counter-offensive in the Kursk Oblast.
