North Korea opens new housing district for families of Ukraine war dead

North Korea said on Monday it had completed a new housing district in Pyongyang for the families of North Korean soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, the latest effort by leader Kim Jong Un to honor the war dead.

State media photos showed Kim Jong Un walking through the new street – known as Saepyol Street – and visiting the homes of some families with his illustrious daughter, known as Kim Ju Ae, as he vowed to pay back the “young martyrs” who “sacrificed all for their motherland”.

In recent months, North Korea has stepped up its campaign to glorify troops deployed to fight Russia’s war against Ukraine, erecting a memorial wall and building a museum. Analysts see this as an attempt to foster internal unity and curb potential public discontent.

Kim has sent thousands of troops and large amounts of military equipment, including artillery and missiles, in recent months to fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine as the leaders face their separate confrontations with Washington.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers last week that about 6,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded during their deployment in the war, but did not provide a breakdown of casualties. About 600 people died last year, the agency said.

According to lawmakers who attended a closed-door briefing last week, the intelligence agency believes North Korean forces are benefiting from the war by gaining advanced combat experience and Russian technical support that can improve the performance of their weapons systems.

The new street construction comes as North Korea’s main ruling party prepares to hold a congress later this month, where Kim is expected to announce his main goals in domestic and foreign policy for the next five years and take further steps to tighten his control.