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North Korean leader praises soldiers for self-detonation in combat
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly commended soldiers who died by detonating their own grenades while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, calling their actions a "height of loyalty." The remarks confirm long-standing suspicions about Pyongyang's battlefield policies.
Suicide attacks framed as patriotic duty
In a speech this week, Kim described the soldiers who "unhesitatingly opted for self-blasting" as "heroes" defending "great honour." State media KCNA reported his comments during a memorial ceremony in Pyongyang on Monday, where Russian officials, including Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, were present.
"Their self-sacrifice expecting no compensation, and the devotion expecting no reward... This is the definition of the height of loyalty of our army," Kim said.
KCNA, North Korean state media
Estimated 6,000 North Korean fatalities in Kursk
South Korea's intelligence agencies estimate that at least 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to assist Russia in recapturing parts of western Kursk, with over 6,000 killed in action. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow has confirmed these figures, but defectors and intelligence reports suggest soldiers were ordered to kill themselves rather than risk capture by Ukrainian forces.
Cultural indoctrination and battlefield realities
North Korean military doctrine teaches that surrender is an act of treason. Earlier this year, South Korean broadcaster MBC aired footage of two North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine, one of whom expressed regret for not taking his own life. "Everyone else blew themselves up. I failed," the prisoner said.
Seoul's National Intelligence Service previously disclosed that memos recovered from deceased North Korean soldiers indicated this extreme practice was standard protocol.
Kim extends praise to all fallen troops
In his speech, Kim also honored soldiers who died in combat, stating that those who "fell in the vanguard of charges" or "writhed in frustration at the failure to fulfill their duties" were "faithful warriors and patriots."
"They too can be called the party's faithful warriors and patriots," Kim said.
Kim Jong Un, North Korean leader
Alliance with Russia deepens
The remarks come amid strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. In June 2024, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense pact, which Kim described as the "strongest ever." North Korea has also pledged to send thousands of workers to assist in rebuilding Kursk.
