Kim Jong-un has praised North Korean soldiers who blew themselves up with grenades to avoid capture while fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia's western Kursk region, confirming the existence of the extreme battlefield policy. The North Korean leader spoke during the inauguration of a memorial in Pyongyang on Sunday, according to state media.
Kim's First Acknowledgment of Suicide Orders
Mounting evidence, including intelligence reports and defector testimonies, has indicated that North Korean soldiers are explicitly instructed to resort to self-detonation or other forms of suicide to avoid falling into enemy hands. In 2024, North Korea deployed about 14,000 elite troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine. These soldiers were sent into battle around the border town of Sudzha, which Ukrainian forces had captured in a surprise counter-invasion. South Korean and Ukrainian officials report that more than 6,000 North Koreans have been killed in intense fighting.
Captured Soldiers Express Guilt
Two North Korean soldiers were captured and are being held as prisoners of war in Kyiv. Both attempted to blow themselves up but failed due to severe injuries. One of them has expressed guilt at his failure to carry out orders, according to sources.
In his speech, Kim praised the soldiers who chose self-destruction, calling them heroes. "It is not only the heroes who unhesitatingly chose the path of self-destruction and suicide to defend great honour, but also those who fell while charging at the forefront of assault battles," he said, according to a transcript from KCNA.
Survivors Also Patriots
Kim also acknowledged those who survived, stating: "Those who writhed in frustration at failing to fulfil their duty as soldiers rather than suffering the agony of their bodies being torn apart by bullets and shells … these too can be called the party's loyal warriors and patriots."
Pyongyang has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells and numerous short-range ballistic missiles. In exchange, North Korea has received economic and military technology assistance from Moscow, based on South Korean intelligence assessments. Russia's armed forces recaptured the Ukrainian pocket around Sudzha in spring 2025. The cross-border advance had been embarrassing for the Kremlin and marked the first time foreign tanks entered Russian territory since World War II.
