North Korean state media has broadcast images of leader Kim Jong Un honoring the flag-draped coffins of what appear to be North Korean soldiers killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine.

The images, which depict a visibly emotional Kim placing flags over coffins and placing his hands on them in a gesture of mourning, were shown at a gala event in Pyongyang on Sunday marking the one-year anniversary of a military pact between North Korea and Russia.

The footage also featured images of North Korean soldiers apparently on the battlefield, accompanied by captions such as: "Oh, our heroes, shining stars of my homeland" and "Those who gave their lives without hesitation to defend honor shine like radiant stars."

According to western estimates, North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops to Russia where they have been deployed predominantly in the Kursk region as part of efforts to combat Ukraine's surprise cross-border incursion last summer.

The Ukrainian armed forces reported the first clashes with North Korean troops in November 2024 and took at least two prisoner, while Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed their presence in Kursk in April 2025.

At the gala in Pyongyang, a photograph of a document, purportedly penned by Kim, was also featured, with a caption saying the leader had "approved operational plans for the liberation of Kursk and issued attack orders to special operations units" in the final months of 2024.

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South Korean military intelligence, which keeps a close eye on its northern neighbor, estimates that around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands injured.

One image appeared to show a blood-stained notebook ostensibly belong to a North Korean soldier containing messages which, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, read: "The decisive moment has finally come," and "Let us bravely fight this sacred battle with the boundless love and trust bestowed upon us by our beloved Supreme Commander" – referring to Kim.

In the auditorium, North Korean and Russian attendees were shown bursting into tears as they watched the tribute. Kim himself was also present, accompanied by his teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae, who is considered by many analysts to be his likely successor, and Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova.

Despite the losses, the South Korean defense ministry insisted on Tuesday that it currently saw no signs of additional North Korean troop deployments to Europe.

While both Russia and North Korea claim to have fully liberated Kursk, Ukraine insisted last week that its troops are still holding some positions on Russian territory.

Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez