Why North Korea’s Kim is lauding Ukraine war sacrifices as key party congress looms

North Korea appears to be recasting the human cost of its involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine as a carefully staged display of loyalty and leadership, with analysts pointing in particular to the unveiling of a new housing district in Pyongyang for families of fallen soldiers as a central part of that effort.Several observers argue that leader Kim Jong-un is seeking not only to recast battlefield losses as patriotic sacrifice but also to head off potential unease before a key party congress later this month, where he is expected to tout his achievements and set the tone for the next five years.On Sunday, Kim attended the completion ceremony of Saeppyol Street, a residential district redesignated for the families of soldiers deployed to the Ukraine war and killed in action, according to state media.Accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae and senior military officials, Kim used the occasion to pay tribute to the fallen and promise sustained state support for their relatives.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) and his daughter, Kim Ju-ae (second from right), greeting bereaved family members during the opening ceremony of Saeppyol Street on Sunday. Photo: EPA/KCNAIn a speech at the event, Kim said the new district fulfilled the “ardent wish of the motherland” to ensure that the lives of soldiers who “gave the most precious thing” would continue through their families.