North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has paid an emotional tribute to soldiers who have died fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, saying his ‘heart aches’ in a rare admission of military losses.

A ceremony for North Korean soldiers in Pyongyang marked just the second time Kim Jong Un has publicly acknowledged the regime’s role in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during an event to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the country's liberation from Japan's colonial rule, in Pyongyang, North Korea, August 14, 2025, in this picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency.

A report published on Wednesday identified a secret North Korean base that could support the rapid launch of long-range missiles.

North Korea has a secret military base near the Chinese border to hold ICBMs that pose a "potential nuclear threat" to the United States, a new report said.