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North Korea has held a commendation ceremony for the North's troops deployed to Russia's war with Ukraine as leader Kim Jong-un called them "great heroes and patriots," state media reported Friday. The North held a ceremony to award state commendations to commanders and combatants of the overseas operation unit of the Korean People's Army (KPA), which was also attended by bereaved families of fallen soldiers, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
According to Yonhap News Agency, it marked the first time that North Korea has awarded commendation to its soldiers who fought overseas. In a speech at the ceremony, the North's leader lauded troops deployed to the front-line Kursk region as "great heroes and patriots," according to the KCNA. "The victory clinched by veterans is a great feat that firmly defends the KPA's great honor ... and secures a solid guarantee for our nation's existence and development," Kim said. He also awarded the title of "He ro of the Republic" to service members and put medals of heroes onto the portraits of those who were killed on the battlefield.
On the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, Kim called for "perfecting" the North Korean army's posture to prepare for war against "military provocation" moves by the enemies. "This environment gives no room to lower our guard and requires our army's further perfect and overwhelming preparations (for war)," Kim said. Seoul's unification ministry said Thursday that Kim's meeting with commanders of the KPA's overseas unit appears aimed at "justifying the deployment and boosting morale" of the military.
The ceremony came amid expectations that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, may hold a summit for a peace deal to end the three years of fighting. North Korea has sent thousands of troops and conventional weapons to support Russia's war efforts since October last year. Russia's media reported the North will send 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Kursk to support reconstruction efforts.