Overview

• State television released footage June 30 showing Kim Jong-Un draping North Korean flags over four to six coffins of soldiers killed in Russia’s Kursk region during a gala performance.
• The ceremony included film clips of Kim approving three “Liberation Operation Plans for Kursk” on Oct. 22, Dec. 12 and Dec. 22 last year, underscoring his hands-on military role.
• The small number of displayed coffins contrasted sharply with reports of thousands of North Korean casualties, pointing to a staged effort to manage public perception.
• South Korea’s National Intelligence Service warned that North Korea may send additional combat troops, engineering units and construction personnel to Russia in July or August.
• Seoul’s unification ministry said the ceremony aimed to shore up domestic solidarity and pressure Moscow for material rewards under the 2024 strategic partnership treaty.