Seoul: TV footage showing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un mourning over the coffins of soldiers believed to have been killed during the Russia-Ukraine war was partly aimed at demanding that Moscow provide rewards for Pyongyang, Seoul's unification ministry stated on Tuesday. North Korea's state media recently aired footage of Kim honoring troops believed to have died in Russia's western Kursk region during combat against Ukraine.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the unification ministry indicated that North Korea appeared to have held a repatriation ceremony to boost military morale by showing respect to those who sacrificed their lives. This move comes at a time when Pyongyang has decided to send additional troops to support Russia's war.

A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that North Korea also aimed to promote internal solidarity amid agitation from the populace regarding the regime's lack of transparency about sending troops. The official further noted that the airing of images showing Kim mourning North Korean soldiers was intended as a message to Russia, implying that North Korea expects corresponding rewards for its sacrifices.

Since October of the previous year, North Korea has sent approximately 15,000 troops to Russia to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. In April, the North acknowledged this troop deployment for the first time. South Korea's spy agency indicated that North Korea is likely to send more troops to Russia in July or August. Russian media reported that North Korea plans to dispatch 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Kursk to assist in reconstruction efforts.