Kim unveils homes for kin of North Korean troops killed aiding Russia: KCNA

Advertisement East Asia Kim unveils homes for kin of North Korean troops killed aiding Russia: KCNA This picture taken on Feb 15, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Feb 16, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae visiting the families of fallen soldiers moving into their homes on the newly inaugurated Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. (Photo: STR/KCNA via KNS/AFP) 16 Feb 2026 11:08AM (Updated: 16 Feb 2026 11:15AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un touted a newly built street of flats for families of soldiers killed supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, state media reported on Monday (Feb 16), with photos showing him accompanied by his daughter.North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to fight for Russia, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, and Seoul has estimated that around 2,000 have been killed.Analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology and food and energy supplies from Russia in return."The new street has been built thanks to the ardent desire of our motherland that wishes that ... its excellent sons, who defended the most sacred things by sacrificing their most valuable things, will live forever," Kim said in a speech released by the official Korean Central News Agency. Subscribe to our Chief Editor’s Week in Review Our chief editor shares analysis and picks of the week's biggest news every Saturday. This service is not intended for persons residing in the E.U. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp’s partners. Loading The report on Monday did not mention Russia, but Kim last week pledged to "unconditionally support" all of Russian President Vladimir Putin's policies and decisions."Before their death, the heroic martyrs must have pictured in their mind's eye their dear families living in the ever-prospering country," he added. This picture taken on Feb 15, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Feb 16, 2026, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) and his daughter Ju Ae attending the inauguration ceremony of Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. (Photo: STR/KCNA via KNS/AFP) Photos released by KCNA show Kim touring the new homes built for the families on Saeppyol Street, alongside his teenage daughter Ju Ae, widely viewed as his heir apparent.Seoul's spy agency said last week she had now been clearly "designated as a successor", citing her participation in high-profile events with her father.One photo shows Kim speaking with what appeared to be the family members of a fallen soldier on a sofa, his daughter standing behind them.Other photos show families checking the utilities in their new flats.The rollout comes ahead of Pyongyang's biggest political event on the calendar - the party congress - scheduled to take place later this month, although the exact date has not been announced.Attention is on which foreign and domestic policy directions Kim will declare to set the country's course, as well as whether Ju Ae will be given any official party titles.The timing of the street inauguration is a "highly calculated political move to justify its soldier deployment" ahead of the party congress, Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP."It visualises the state providing concrete compensation to the families of fallen soldiers ... as a symbolic showcase," he said. Related: North Korea fires ballistic missiles towards Sea of Japan North Korea warns of 'terrible response' if South sends more drones Source: AFP/ec Newsletter Week in Review Subscribe to our Chief Editor’s Week in Review Our chief editor shares analysis and picks of the week's biggest news every Saturday. Sign up for our newsletters Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Subscribe here Get the CNA app Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Download here Get WhatsApp alerts Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app Join here Related Topics North Korea Kim Jong Un Ukraine invasion Russia-Ukraine war Advertisement Also worth reading Content is loading... Advertisement Expand to read the full story Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST