North Korea opens housing district for families of fallen soldiers

SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the completion ceremony of a new housing district in Pyongyang for families of troops who died in overseas military operations, state media KCNA said on Monday.

In a speech, Kim said the new district symbolized the "spirit and sacrifice" of the dead troops, adding that the homes were meant to allow bereaved families to "take pride in their sons and husbands and live happily."

Kim said he had pushed to finish the project "even one day earlier" in the hope it might bring "some small comfort" to the troops' families.

Under a mutual defense pact with Russia, in 2024 North Korea sent some 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, where more than 6,000 of them were killed, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western sources.

North Korea has staged multiple public ceremonies in recent months to honor its war dead, including the unveiling of a new memorial complex in Pyongyang adorned with sculptures of troops.

The opening comes ahead of the ninth congress of the ruling Workers' Party, which is set to convene in late February and is expected to serve as a major political showcase for Kim's achievements and policy priorities.

-Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim in Seoul; Editing by Matthew Lewis/Reuters