North Korea opens street for families of soldiers killed in Russia-Ukraine war

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un visits Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang, Sunday, which houses new homes for the bereaved family members of North Korean soldiers who died during the Russia-Ukraine war, in this photo carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

North Korea has built new homes in Pyongyang for the bereaved family members of North Korean soldiers who died during the Russia-Ukraine war, its state media said Monday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the opening ceremony of the new street called Saeppyol Street, Sunday, accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae and officials.

In his speech at the ceremony, Kim said the new street “has been built thanks to the ardent desire of our motherland that wishes that the precious lives of its excellent sons, who defended the most sacred things by sacrificing their most valuable things, will live forever.”

Describing the street as “a source of honor for our generation and a pride of Pyongyang and our state,” he said it is for “the bereaved family members of the fallen soldiers and other combatants, as well as the combatants of the regiment of the engineers, who have been dispatched to the overseas military operations.”

“The Party and the government will take all necessary steps to ensure that these families lead a proud and worthwhile life while enjoying the preferential treatment by the state and the loving care of the whole society,” he added, according to the KCNA.

After delivering the address and cutting the ribbon to mark the completion of the street, he visited the homes of some families to offer comfort.

In August last year, Kim revealed plans to build the street, stressing commemorative services for its deployed soldiers, in an effort to legitimize North Korea’s participation in Moscow’s war against Ukraine and bolster domestic support.

The report did not reveal how many homes were built for the families.