North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised soldiers who killed themselves by detonating grenades to avoid capture while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, confirming a long-suspected battlefield policy. Speaking this week in Pyongyang, Kim hailed these troops as "heroes" for their actions.
The leader stated that those who "unhesitatingly opted for self-blasting, suicide attack, in order to defend the great honour" exemplified the highest loyalty. His remarks were made during a memorial event for fallen troops.
Background
South Korea estimates that at least 15,000 North Koreans have been deployed to assist Russia in recapturing parts of western Kursk, with more than 6,000 reportedly killed. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have officially confirmed these figures.
Intelligence agencies and defectors have consistently reported that North Korean soldiers operate under orders to commit suicide rather than be taken prisoner by Ukraine. Kim reiterated this sentiment on Monday, saying, "Their self-sacrifice expecting no compensation, and the devotion expecting no reward... This [is] the definition of the height of loyalty of our army."
The memorial unveiling in Pyongyang was attended by senior Russian officials, including Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, state media KCNA reported.
- In North Korea, soldiers are taught that capture by an enemy constitutes an act of treason.
- Earlier this year, South Korean broadcaster MBC aired a programme featuring two North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine.
- One prisoner expressed regret on camera for not taking his own life, stating, "Everyone else blew themselves up. I failed."
- Seoul's National Intelligence Service reported last year finding memos on deceased North Korean soldiers pointing to this extreme practice.
- Kim also praised troops who died in combat, acknowledging those who "writhed in frustration at the failure to fulfill their duties as soldiers who were given orders."
Context and Future
The praise follows a defence pact signed in June 2024 between Russian President Putin and Kim Jong Un, pledging mutual assistance in the event of "aggression" against either country. Kim had described this treaty as the "strongest ever."
Beyond military support, North Korea has also committed to sending thousands of workers to help rebuild the Kursk region. This broader cooperation underscores the deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
