Pyongyang:<Text>
North Korea has conducted a commendation ceremony for its troops involved in Russia's conflict with Ukraine, with leader Kim Jong-un applauding them as "great heroes and patriots," as reported by state media on Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ceremony was held to bestow state commendations upon commanders and combatants from the overseas operation unit of the Korean People's Army (KPA), who have recently returned home after taking part in the fighting. This event marked the first occasion where North Korea awarded commendations to its soldiers for their participation in overseas conflicts.
During the ceremony at the headquarters of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jong-un praised the troops stationed in the front-line Kursk region, describing their accomplishments as a significant victory that upheld the honor of the KPA and ensured the security and growth of the state. Kim asserted that the bravery exhibited by North Kore an forces demonstrated that any army opposing them would face inevitable defeat.
The ceremony saw Kim awarding the title of "DPRK Hero" to commanders and service members for their notable achievements in battle, as stated by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The DPRK Hero medals were placed beside the portraits of soldiers who were martyred during the conflict.
A moment of silence was observed by Kim to honor the fallen soldiers, and he offered condolences to their families present at the ceremony, as reported by KCNA. In his address, Kim emphasized the need for the KPA to become an elite and formidable force, fully prepared to counter any "military provocation" from adversaries.
Seoul's unification ministry noted that Kim's interaction with the KPA's overseas unit commanders appeared to be an effort to justify their deployment and boost military morale. The ceremony coincided with expectations of a potential summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate a peace agreement after three years of conflict.
Since October last year, North Korea has sent thousands of troops and conventional weapons to aid Russia's war efforts. Russian media has reported that North Korea will dispatch 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Kursk to support reconstruction efforts.