Kim Jong-un praises North Korean troops who self-detonated to avoid capture in Ukraine
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has publicly praised soldiers who killed themselves by detonating grenades to avoid capture while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
This marks the first official confirmation of an extreme battlefield policy reportedly enforced by Pyongyang.
In a speech delivered during a ceremony unveiling a memorial for fallen troops in Pyongyang, Kim described those who "unhesitatingly opted for self-blasting, suicide attack, in order to defend the great honour" as "heroes." The event was attended by Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and the speaker of Russia's parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin.
South Korean and Ukrainian officials estimate that over 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in intense fighting around the western Kursk region since 2024, when approximately 14,000 elite troops were sent to support Russia.
Two North Korean prisoners of war are currently held in Kyiv, both having attempted to self-detonate but survived due to severe injuries.
One has expressed guilt over failing to carry out the order.
The policy of self-detonation to avoid capture reflects a military doctrine in which being taken prisoner is considered an act of treason.
Intelligence reports and testimonies from defectors have long indicated that North Korean soldiers are explicitly instructed to resort to suicide rather than fall into enemy hands.
Kim also praised those who died in combat, calling them "the party's loyal warriors and patriots," whether they fell charging at the front or suffered frustration at failing to fulfill their duties.
North Korea's involvement in the conflict includes sending millions of artillery shells and short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, which in return has provided economic and military technology assistance.
The Russian armed forces recaptured the Ukrainian pocket around Sudzha in spring 2025.
The alliance between Russia and North Korea was formalized in a 2024 treaty pledging mutual assistance in the event of aggression.
