North Korea opens a housing district for households of its troopers killed in Russia-Ukraine warfare : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3333+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1c%2Fed%2F177955fe4e9c8f20dcade501d812%2Fap26046820733657.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3333+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1c%2Fed%2F177955fe4e9c8f20dcade501d812%2Fap26046820733657.jpg" class="img" alt="In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second right, attends a completion ceremony of the new street, called Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang, North Korea Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified." fetchpriority="high"/> On this picture supplied by the North Korean authorities, North Korean chief Kim Jong Un, second proper, attends a completion ceremony of the brand new avenue, known as Saeppyol Road in Pyongyang, North Korea Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Impartial journalists weren't given entry to cowl the occasion depicted on this picture distributed by the North Korean authorities. The content material of this picture is as supplied and can't be independently verified. Korean Central Information Company/Korea Information Service/AP disguise caption

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Korean Central Information Company/Korea Information Service/AP SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea stated Monday it accomplished a brand new housing district in Pyongyang for households of North Korean troopers killed whereas combating alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, the most recent effort by chief Kim Jong Un to honor the warfare useless.

State media images confirmed Kim Jong Un strolling by way of the brand new avenue — known as Saeppyol Road — and visiting the properties of among the households together with his more and more outstanding daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, as he pledged to repay the "younger martyrs" who "sacrificed all to their motherland."

In latest months, North Korea has intensified propaganda glorifying troops deployed to battle in Russia's warfare towards Ukraine, corresponding to establishing a memorial wall and constructing a museum. Analysts see it as an effort to bolster inside unity and curb potential public discontent.

Kim in latest months has despatched hundreds of troops and enormous portions of army tools, together with artillery and missiles, to gasoline Russian President Vladimir Putin's warfare on Ukraine, because the leaders align within the face of their separate confrontations with Washington.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4490x2993+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fb0%2Fb0b1949e46358b06e2efeb694b07%2Fap26043320820779.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4490x2993+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fb0%2Fb0b1949e46358b06e2efeb694b07%2Fap26043320820779.jpg" class="img" alt="FILE - In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center left, and his daughter, center right, arrive at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang, North Korea, June 29, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified." loading="lazy"/> FILE - On this picture supplied by the North Korean authorities, North Korean chief Kim Jong Un, middle left, and his daughter, middle proper, arrive on the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang, North Korea, June 29, 2025. Impartial journalists weren't given entry to cowl the occasion depicted on this picture distributed by the North Korean authorities. The content material of this picture is as supplied and can't be independently verified. Korean Central Information Company/Korea Information Service/AP disguise caption

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Korean Central Information Company/Korea Information Service/AP South Korea's Nationwide Intelligence Service instructed lawmakers final week it estimated 6,000 North Korean troops have been killed or wounded throughout their deployment within the warfare, however didn't present a breakdown of fatalities. The company stated final 12 months it believed roughly 600 had died.

The spy company believes North Korean forces are gaining fashionable fight expertise and Russian technical assist that would enhance the efficiency of their weapons programs, in response to lawmakers who attended final week's closed-door briefing.

The development of the brand new avenue comes as North Korea prepares to open a significant ruling celebration congress later this month, the place Kim is predicted to announce his main objectives in home and overseas coverage over the following 5 years and take additional steps to tighten his management.