Kim Jong Un inspects memorial sculptures for North Korean troops killed fighting in Ukraine

North Korea's leader has visited a state art studio to oversee sculptures for a planned memorial to North Korean troops killed while fighting in Ukraine, according to state media. 

KCNA said Kim Jong Un told artists the works should "convey forever the legendary feats... of admirable sons of the DPRK", using North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 

The visit is the latest in a series of state media reports linking the leader personally to the memorial project. 

• Nuclear missiles, robot dogs and laser weapons on display at Chinese military parade
• Russia tipped to lose its only carrier as repair and refit work on Admiral Kuznetsov is halted
• Bolster our capability or risk seeing Russia dominate GIUK Gap, warns former submariner

Earlier this month, Reuters reported Kim and his daughter, Ju Ae, inspected the memorial construction site.

The work is being produced at Pyongyang's Mansudae Art Studio, a huge complex that produces many of North Korea's large public monuments and propaganda art. 

It was founded in 1959 and employs thousands of staff, including a large cadre of artists

The studio's overseas commercial arm, the Mansudae Overseas Project Group of Companies, has been listed in UN Security Council sanctions documentation relating to North Korea.

Reuters said North Korea sent about 14,000 troops in 2024 to support Russian forces under a mutual defence pact, citing South Korean, Ukrainian and Western sources. 

The same report cited those sources as estimating that more than 6,000 were killed. 

The memorial push comes as North Korea prepares for a major ruling party meeting. 

Analysts expect the Ninth Party Congress of the Workers' Party to set out five-year policy goals, and it could be accompanied by a large military parade. 

The Korean People's Army (KPA) is estimated to have about 1.2 million active personnel. 

That includes an army of around one million, an air force of about 110,000 and a navy of roughly 60,000, as well as nearly 7,000 personnel involved in cyber warfare.

Those figures would make it one of the world's largest militaries, behind only countries such as China and the United States. 

Analysts also estimate Pyongyang can call on a further 600,000 reservists.