North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly confirmed that his forces fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine have followed a battlefield policy of killing themselves to avoid capture, marking the first time Pyongyang has acknowledged the practice.
State-run Korean Central News Agency said Kim made the remarks during the inauguration of a memorial museum in Pyongyang honoring North Korean soldiers killed in the war against Ukraine, which was also attended by visiting Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov.
Speaking at the memorial ceremony, Kim praised those who died in combat and those who “unhesitatingly opted for self-blasting, suicide attack, in order to defend the great honor.”
“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,” he added.
North Korea has deployed an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russian operations in Ukraine, particularly in the Kursk region, according to South Korean and Western intelligence assessments.
The deployment was ordered by Kim as part of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In return for sending troops and munitions, Pyongyang has received economic and military technology assistance from Russia.
Officials estimate that more than 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.
