00:00North Korean troops just returned from fighting in Russia's war in Ukraine,
00:03and Kim Jong-un rolled out the red carpet.
00:06A military engineering unit of the Korean People's Army just landed back in Pyongyang
00:11after a secretive 120-day deployment in Russia's war zone.
00:14North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un personally greeted the troops.
00:18He hugged wounded soldiers
00:20and praised them for what he called heroic service in Russia's Kursk region.
00:24State media said they cleared mines and held the line during Ukraine's recent assault.
00:29According to reports from the West and South Korea,
00:31over 14,000 North Korean troops were sent to fight for Russia,
00:35and more than 6,000 may have died.
00:38But Kim claimed just nine deaths, calling it a heartbreaking loss.
00:41He awarded the entire regiment one of the country's highest honors,
00:45the Order of Freedom and Independence.
00:47The fallen were declared national heroes.
00:50And their coffins, earlier shown draped in the flag, received full honors.
00:54At the ceremony, Kim hailed their discipline and loyalty,
00:58calling them a model for all North Korean forces.
01:00This is the clearest signal yet.
01:02North Korea's boots are now on Russia's battlefield.
01:05North Korea's own
Comments