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.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has decorated some of the soldiers sent to Russia to help it in its war against Ukraine, hailing the "heroes" who had "cemented" the North Korean army's reputation and saying there would be more such deployments.

At a ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un praised the overseas troops and said their participation demonstrated "the power of the heroic (North Korean) army."