TYRANT Kim Jong-un has said his “heart aches” for the fallen North Korean soldiers who he ordered to fight in the Ukraine war.
The Supreme Leader was seen sobbing as he gave a speech praising the men he sent across to aid pal Vladimir Putin’s barbaric invasion.
EPAAn emotional Kim Jong-un consoling families who have lost their loved ones after the Supreme Leader sent them to Russia to fight[/caption]
AFPKim knelt down in front of a wall of images of his fallen troops as he sobbed while paying his respects[/caption]
EPAThe blurry eyed despot hugs a soldier who returned from Ukraine[/caption]
Photos released by state media show a crying Kim pinning badges on pictures of his killed soldiers which lined the walls of his Pyongyang palace.
Each one of the 101 soldier’s names were written in gold beneath an image of them in their military gear.
Kim attended a ceremony hosted by commanders and troops from a unit that had fought for Russia in the western Kursk region.
The despot praised the officers for leading “a heroic army” despite their mounting losses.
Kim said in a speech: “My heart aches and is bitter as I face the reality that I only get to meet the noble figures who gave up their precious lives for great victory and glory through photos on the memorial wall.
“As I stand in front of the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers, I don’t know how to express my regret and apologies for not being able to protect our precious sons.”
Kim also met with bereaved family members who were seen weeping alongside the North Korean leader.
Many photos released present Kim as a devastated and emotional figure with him seen embracing crying children and hugging soldiers.
Authorities later held a banquet to celebrate the unit after they returned.
The move was a rare admission of military losses for North Korea as their leaders often shield residents from any negativity about the country.
The dictator is believed to have sent around 12,000 soldiers to help fight alongside Putin’s men in Kursk.
The move came as Russia was being pushed back to Ukrainian troops as Vlad desperately scrambled to repel a incursion into the border zone.
A huge majority of the soldiers sent by Kim were reportedly forced to go to the battlefield with little time to prepare or train.
This left many of them dying as the relentless toll of the Ukraine conflict raged on.
Ukrainian and Western estimates suggest North Korea lost around 4,000 troops.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service say around 600 died with another 4,700 casualties being forced to flee the gruelling war.
A similar ceremony took place in June as Kim was seen weeping over footage of himself draping flags over the coffins of troops he sent to die on Putin’s front-line.
Despite the mounting deaths and his sorrow over the military losses, Kim is still sending troops into the meat grinder.
AFPKim holds onto a child at the ceremony[/caption]
AFPThousands of officers and soldiers turned up for the ceremony[/caption]
APMore than a dozen of North Korea’s top military officers returned home from Russia as Putin looks to discuss a ceasefire[/caption]
More North Korean soldiers are believed to be on their way to Russia this month with one report suggesting up to 30,000 more fighters could be deployed.
At the ceremony Kim hailed the “victorious conclusion of overseas military operations”.
He heaped praise on those fighters who are “faithfully carrying out their missions with full devotion to the orders of the fatherland”.
Kim added: “They are an example of valour and selflessness and show the world what makes the DPRK strong and why it will win any war.”
It comes as reports suggest Pyongyang is slowly pulling back from its support of Russia on the battlefield as Vlad believes he is winning the war once again.
Kim has backed Putin not only with his armed forces personnel but also with missiles and munitions to help pull of the countless brazen strikes.
But now more than a dozen of North Korea’s top military officers have returned home from Russia.
The North Korean commanders, including Col. Gen. Kim Yong Bok and Maj. Gen. Sin Kum Chol, all made an appearance at the emotional ceremony.
The generals’ return is rumoured to be a clear signal that Russia is confident it no longer needs the extra support in Kursk.
Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at the Stimson Center think tank, told the Wall Street Journal the move may have been done to help Putin at the negotiating table.
He said: “The North Koreans shouldn’t be a bone of contention at the negotiating table as they are operating on Russian territory.”
AFPPhotos released by state media show a crying Kim pinning badges on pictures of his killed soldiers[/caption]
TelegramLeaked footage showed Kim Jong-un’s soldiers training in Kursk[/caption]
APRussian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of a new partnership in Pyongyang[/caption]