Kim Jong Un's Brutal Blood Pact With Putin
North Korea's Kim Jong Un meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the North Korea–Russia Summit, April 2019. Photo courtesy of The Presidential Press and Information Office under CC BY 4.0.
If you thought political theater had reached its peak, think again. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently staged a tearful spectacle that has left many shaking their heads in disbelief. At a lavish gala in Pyongyang marking the one-year anniversary of his defense pact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim was reportedly shown draping national flags over coffins of North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine. The images of the usually stoic dictator appearing emotional, some say even tearful, are hard to miss. But behind this display of grief lies a far darker reality: thousands more troops are being sent to fight and die on Russia's brutal frontlines, while the regime uses propaganda to maintain control and manage public perception.
A Show of Sorrow on a Stage of Blood
The event was no ordinary memorial. It was a grand gala, complete with performances by North Korean and Russian artists, attended by Russia's culture minister Olga Lyubimova, who was in the country to mark the anniversary of the strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim and Putin last June. The treaty, which includes a mutual defense pact, has deepened the military alliance between the two nations, with North Korea reported to have sent troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine.
During the gala, state media broadcast photographs of Kim standing solemnly beside six coffins, carefully covering each with the North Korean flag. At one point, he paused with both hands resting on the caskets, a moment that appeared to show genuine reflection, as reported by the Daily Mail. Audience members were also seen wiping away tears, adding to the emotional atmosphere. The Korean Central News Agency praised the event for inspiring confidence in the "ties of friendship and the genuine internationalist obligation between the peoples and armies of the two countries that were forged at the cost of blood," according to the Daily Mail.
But this spectacle of mourning is a carefully crafted piece of propaganda. It aims to project an image of a leader who cares deeply for his soldiers, even as he continues to send thousands more to their deaths.
The Grim Toll Behind the Tears
South Korea's National Intelligence Service recently revealed that approximately 4,700 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded fighting for Russia in Ukraine, including 600 deaths. This figure has risen sharply from earlier estimates, with 2,000 injured soldiers reportedly repatriated to North Korea between January and March alone. The deceased soldiers are said to have been cremated in Russia before their remains were sent home, according to Lee Seong Kweun, a South Korean lawmaker who attended a closed-door briefing by the National Intelligence Service, as reported by the Associated Press.
Despite these mounting casualties, Kim is reportedly expected to send around 6,000 more personnel to Russia later this summer. The deployment is part of the ongoing military cooperation under the 2024 defense treaty, which obligates both countries to provide aid if the other is attacked. North Korea's troops have been credited with playing a significant role in helping Russia reclaim the Kursk region, a strategic area in western Russia that was lost to a surprise Ukrainian incursion last year, according to reporting by Reuters.
Elite Cluelessness or Calculated Cruelty?
What makes this display particularly jarring is the contrast between Kim's public sorrow and the harsh reality faced by his soldiers. Reports suggest that many North Korean troops are sent on what some describe as coerced suicide missions, with little regard for their survival. The regime heavily depends on controlling the narrative, and this gala was a prime example of exploiting grief for propaganda.
While Kim mourns on stage, the families of fallen soldiers are reportedly offered financial aid, housing benefits, and social recognition to quell dissent and maintain loyalty. These measures serve as a grim reminder of the regime's transactional approach to human life, using rewards to mask the true cost of its military ambitions.
For comfortable and air-conditioned Americans watching from afar, this spectacle might seem like a distant tragedy. But it's a stark reminder of the human cost behind geopolitical gamesmanship. The tears shed by Kim Jong Un are not just about personal loss; they are about power, control, and the ruthless calculus of war.
The Optics of Exploitation
The timing and setting of the gala were no accident. Marking the anniversary of the defense pact with Russia, the event was designed to reinforce the image of a strong alliance forged at the cost of blood. The presence of Russian officials and the joint performances underscored the deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Yet, the optics of a leader publicly grieving over coffins while continuing to send thousands more to the frontlines reveal a troubling disconnect. It raises questions about the sincerity of Kim's emotions and the extent to which this display serves the regime's interests rather than genuine mourning.
What Lies Ahead?
As the war in Ukraine grinds on, the involvement of North Korean troops adds a complex layer to the conflict. The strategic partnership between Kim and Putin signals a willingness to deepen military cooperation, even at great human cost.
For now, the world watches as Kim Jong Un balances public displays of grief with the harsh realities of war. His tears may tug at the heartstrings, but they cannot mask the blood pact that binds him to Putin's cause, a pact that demands more lives and more coffins draped in flags.
How many more will die before this alliance unravels? And how long will the spectacle of sorrow continue to distract from the brutal truth?
The answer remains to be seen, but one thing is clear, Kim Jong Un's tears are just the surface of a much darker story.
References: Kim Jong-un appears to weep as he watches slide show of him draping flags over coffins of the troops he sent to die on Putin's meatgrinder frontline | About 4,700 North Korean soldiers killed or injured fighting for Russia, says South Korea | North Korea's Kim seen draping coffins with flag at Russia treaty anniversary | North Korea's Suicide Soldiers Pose New Challenge for Ukraine in War With Russia
