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 has publicly acknowledged the regime’s role in the war in Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a ceremony to honor the country's troops deployed to Russia, state media reported Friday, calling them "great heroes and great patriots."