TYRANT Kim Jong-un has said his “heart aches” for the fallen North Korean soldiers who he ordered to fight in the Ukraine war.
The Supreme Leader was seen sobbing as he gave a speech praising the men he sent across to aid pal Vladimir Putin’s barbaric invasion.
Photos released by state media show a crying Kim pinning badges on pictures of his killed soldiers which lined the walls of his Pyongyang palace.
Each one of the 101 soldier’s names were written in gold beneath an image of them in their military gear.
Kim attended a ceremony hosted by commanders and troops from a unit that had fought for Russia in the western Kursk region.
The despot praised the officers for leading “a heroic army” despite their mounting losses.
In a speech, Kim expressed, “My heart aches and is bitter as I confront the reality of only seeing the noble figures who sacrificed their precious lives for great victory and glory through photos on the memorial wall.
“Standing before the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers, I am at a loss for words on how to convey my regret and apologies for not being able to protect our beloved sons.”
Kim also met with bereaved family members who were seen weeping alongside the North Korean leader.
Many photos released present Kim as a devastated and emotional figure with him seen embracing crying children and hugging soldiers.
Authorities later held a banquet to celebrate the unit after they returned.
The move was a rare admission of military losses for North Korea as their leaders often shield residents from any negativity about the country.
The dictator is believed to have sent around 12,000 soldiers to help fight alongside Putin’s men in Kursk.
The move came as Russia was being pushed back to Ukrainian troops as Vlad desperately scrambled to repel a incursion into the border zone.
A huge majority of the soldiers sent by Kim were reportedly forced to go to the battlefield with little time to prepare or train.
This left many of them dying as the relentless toll of the Ukraine conflict raged on.
Ukrainian and Western estimates suggest North Korea lost around 4,000 troops.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service say around 600 died with another 4,700 casualties being forced to flee the gruelling war.
In June, a similar ceremony occurred where Kim was seen tearfully draping flags over the coffins of troops he had dispatched to the front lines of Putin’s battle.
Despite the mounting deaths and his sorrow over the military losses, Kim is still sending troops into the meat grinder.
There are reports suggesting that more North Korean soldiers are en route to Russia this month, with speculation that up to 30,000 additional fighters might be deployed.
At the ceremony Kim hailed the “victorious conclusion of overseas military operations”.
He heaped praise on those fighters who are “faithfully carrying out their missions with full devotion to the orders of the fatherland”.
Kim added: “They are an example of valour and selflessness and show the world what makes the DPRK strong and why it will win any war.”
This development comes amid indications that Pyongyang is gradually distancing itself from its battlefield support for Russia, as Vlad believes he is regaining the upper hand in the war.
Kim has backed Putin not only with his armed forces personnel but also with missiles and munitions to help pull of the countless brazen strikes.
But now more than a dozen of North Korea’s top military officers have returned home from Russia.
The North Korean commanders, including Col. Gen. Kim Yong Bok and Maj. Gen. Sin Kum Chol, all made an appearance at the emotional ceremony.
The generals’ return is rumoured to be a clear signal that Russia is confident it no longer needs the extra support in Kursk.
Michael Madden, a North Korea expert from the Stimson Center think tank, told the Wall Street Journal that this move might have been made to assist Putin in negotiations.
He said: “The North Koreans shouldn’t be a bone of contention at the negotiating table as they are operating on Russian territory.”
