North Korea's leader promises support to families of soldiers fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met with families of soldiers who died fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, promising them a "beautiful life." State media reported Kim's condolences for their loss and his praise for their patriotism. The scale of North Korean troop deployment and exact casualty figures remain unclear, with estimates ranging from around 600 to over 6,000 deaths. This meeting comes after Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged North Korea's troop deployment in Russia's Kursk region in April.