North Korea grants families rare privileges to temper anger over war dead
North Korea will allow the families of soldiers killed fighting for Russia the 'privilege' of moving to Pyongyang, and build a monument to its fallen soldiers, it has been reported.
Being permitted to move to the capital is a rare honour under the authoritarian rule of Kim Jong-un, and is likely a calculated move to limit criticism of his regime by the relatives of the dead, experts have said.
One analyst also suggested the offer may also be a way of concentrating families and reducing the spread of rumours about the losses that North Korean forces have suffered and the conditions they endured fighting in Vladimir Putin's armies.
A report by the Seoul-based South and North Development Institute claimed that the government of Kim Jong-un is considering granting 'capital residency rights' to families of the war dead after it became apparent that there is a groundswell of public anger over the dispatch of troops to the war against Ukraine.
Relatives of the deceased will reportedly be given homes in the newly developed suburbs of Songshin and Hwasong - KNS/KCNA
Quoting sources in the North, the report said the relatives would be given homes in the newly developed suburbs of Songshin and Hwasong.
'Ordinarily, it is an enormous privilege to be able to live in Pyongyang as only the elite in North Korean society are permitted to live there or even enter the city,' said Rah Jong-yil, a former diplomat and senior South Korean intelligence officer.
'But it is also easy to see this as a means of controlling the families,' he added. 'Having these people all in one place means it is easier to stop the rumours spreading around the country and privilege is also something that can be taken away.'
Reports claim North Korean troops have been killed while fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk border region
Reports of North Koreans fighting on Russia's behalf date back to October 2024.
Although rumours have been rife in the North for several months, North Korean state-run media only officially reported that troops had been deployed to fight alongside Russian units in Ukraine on April 28.
As many as 15,000 personnel are believed to have been sent to the front, with South Korean intelligence estimating that 600 have been killed and a further 4,100 injured.
Announcing the North Korean contribution to the liberation of Russia's Kursk region after an extended incursion by Ukrainian troops last year, Kim Jong-un said, 'They all fought for justice and are heroes, representatives of the honour of their country'.
'Sense of solidarity'
In a statement, Russia's leader Vladimir Putin expressed his appreciation for the assistance of Pyongyang's forces, saying, 'Our Korean friends acted out of a sense of solidarity, justice and genuine comradeship'.
North Korea has also announced plans to construct a new 'combat honour monument' in Pyongyang.
In another indication that the regime is bracing the public for the consequences of deploying units in Europe, state-run media reported that the Kaesong Disabled Soldiers' Medical Appliances Factory has been 'wonderfully renovated'.
Kim Jong-un 'took benevolent measures' to modernise the factory and expand its production capacity, it added.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Why Trump Loves a Man in Uniform
What is it about a man in uniform? For decades, even centuries, the allure has been a romantic cliché. But swooning heroines are not the only ones who love the look. So do autocrats like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un — and so, apparently, does President Trump, who has fantasized about a military parade since his first term, when he was publicly taken by the spectacle of the Bastille Day parade in Paris featuring soldiers in all their spit-shined glory marching down the Champs-Élysées. Well, on Saturday he will get his wish, just in time for his 79th birthday, which happens to coincide with the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. Not to mention Flag Day. That's when 6,600 soldiers, resplendent in uniforms representing conflicts from the Revolutionary War to today, as well as hundreds in full contemporary battle dress, will march in formation down Constitution Avenue and across the National Mall, medals gleaming, hardware flashing, like nothing so much as soldier supermodels in mid-strut. If you think that comparison is a reach, consider that Mr. Trump himself offered it up during his West Point commencement speech in late May, saying of the cadets: 'These are good-looking people, I'll tell you. General, what's going on over here? Looks like all a bunch of male models.' Of course, there are women at West Point, though they are a minority, and they will be in the parade. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
How the world is reacting to Israel attacks on Iran nuclear, military sites
Israel's military says it launched a wave of strikes on Iran, hitting key nuclear facilities and killing senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists in a major attack. The assault in the early hours of Friday also hit residential sites, injuring at least 50 people, according to Iran's Tasnim state news agency. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Israel that it 'must expect severe punishment' following its 'crime', while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the military operation will continue as long as necessary. Here is how the world is reacting: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for 'maximum restraint' to avoid 'descent into deeper conflict'. 'The secretary-general condemns any military escalation in the Middle East,' Guterres's spokesperson Farhan Haq said. 'He is particularly concerned by Israeli attacks on nuclear installations in Iran while talks between Iran and the United States on the status of Iran's nuclear programme are under way.' Oman, which has been mediating nuclear talks between the US and Iran over recent months, decried Israel's attacks as a 'dangerous and reckless escalation' that 'violates the principles of international law'. '[It] represents unacceptable and ongoing aggressive behaviour that undermines the foundations of stability in the region,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 'Israel is responsible for this escalation and its consequences.'US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took 'unilateral action against Iran' and that Israel advised the US that it believed the strikes were necessary for its self-defence. 'We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,' Rubio said in a statement released by the White House. 'Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.' Saudi Arabia denounced the 'heinous' Israeli attacks. 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the heinous Israeli attacks against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran,' the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X. The ministry said Israel's brutal offensive on Iran 'violates its sovereignty and constitutes a blatant breach of international laws and norms'. It pointed to the UN Security Council's responsibility for immediately confronting and halting the repeated Israeli aggression. Qatar said it was deeply concerned over the 'dangerous escalation' and called on the international community to 'urgently halt these Israeli violations'. 'The State of Qatar expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack targeting the territory of the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran, considering it a flagrant violation of Iran's sovereignty and security, and a clear breach of the rules and principles of international law,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Israel's strikes on Iran are concerning and that all parties need to step back and reduce tensions. 'Stability in the Middle East must be the priority, and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy,' Starmer said. Australia said it was 'alarmed by the escalation between Israel and Iran'. 'This risks further destabilising a region that is already volatile. We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that will further exacerbate tensions,' said Foreign Minister Penny Wong. 'We all understand the threat of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme represents a threat to international peace and security, and we urge the parties to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy,' Wong said. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the attacks were an 'unwelcome development' in the region. 'The risk of miscalculation is high. That region does not need any more military action, and risk associated with that,' Luxon said. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said the use of military forces at a time of diplomacy and negotiations between the US and Iran is 'deeply regrettable'. 'The government strongly condemns this action, which escalates the situation,' Iwaya said.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Defence spending boost can only go so far to lessen U.S. reliance: experts
MONTREAL - In early 2002, Glenn Cowan touched down in Kandahar province as part of the first wave of regular Canadian Army troops deployed to Afghanistan, serving in a U.S.-led brigade combat team. After joining Canada's elite special operations unit Joint Task Force 2 in 2003, he spent the next 13 years collaborating with American soldiers on raids, rescues and reconnaissance missions. 'If you're going to get into a fight with someone, you want the Americans on your side,' said Cowan, founder of ONE9. His Ottawa-based venture capital firm focuses on national security investments. The same might be said of the gear Canadian troops use, and the industry behind it. An infusion of fresh defence funding is poised to flood parts of Canada's aerospace, manufacturing and information technology sectors in a bid to reduce reliance on the United States, but experts say this country will remain firmly fastened to its neighbour as a military-industrial partner by necessity. While not a military powerhouse, Canada has expertise in areas ranging from flight simulation and shipbuilding to armoured vehicles and artificial intelligence. The $9.3-billion in additional defence spending announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday is poised to boost those sectors, with the goal of greater procurement from domestic companies. 'We're too reliant on the United States,' Carney said. 'We will ensure that every dollar is invested wisely, including by prioritizing made-in-Canada manufacturing and supply chains. We should no longer send three-quarters of our defence capital spending to America.' But a massive cash injection means Canada will have to scale up fast, including via foreign suppliers, said Jim Kilpatrick, in charge of global supply chain and network operations at Deloitte. 'Defence supply chains can often go 10 or 11 tiers deep,' he said, stressing their complex international reach. 'Canada will not be self-sufficient in defence products required by our military.' The country's relatively small production capacity means it will continue to shell out money on American equipment, technology and aircraft, including 88 U.S.-built F-35 fighter jets at a cost of tens of billions of dollars, experts say. However, some of that spending will go to American military giants that have a big presence on Canadian soil, even if the profits end up in pockets south of the border. General Dynamics churns out light armoured vehicles bristelling with turreted mortars and assault guns in London, Ont., as well as tactical communications systems in Ottawa. Lockheed Martin works on 'advanced technology systems' such as naval command software in five provinces. Defence contractor Raytheon counts 8,500 employees and 2,500 suppliers in Canada. 'The wider Canadian economy features a lot of branch plants,' noted David Perry, CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. While high-tech weapons and machinery come to mind at the mention of defence procurement, much of the extra funding this year may well go to more mundane items. Housing and infrastructure upgrades for Canadian troops make up some of the biggest priorities for Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan, she told Quebec radio host Patrick Lagacé on Thursday. Perry also highlighted the ripple effects of that spending for myriad business types beyond the purely military realm. 'Some of it is done through the big stuff — we think about fighter jets. But a lot of it pays for office furniture, software licenses, electricity contracts, snow removal, grass cutting.' Taking a step back, Perry framed defence investment in terms the prime minister, formerly the head of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, could appreciate. 'If you think of our defence relationships as an investment portfolio, the PM is saying we're way over-indexed in the Dow Jones and the S&P,' he said. 'Diversify.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
