Kim Jong Un calls North Korean soldiers who blew themselves up to avoid capture in war against Ukraine "heroes"

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has confirmed a policy requiring soldiers to commit suicide on the battlefield to avoid capture while participating in Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: Kim made the remarks during the opening of a memorial in Pyongyang dedicated to North Korean soldiers who died in the war against Ukraine.

In a speech to relatives of the fallen and Russian officials, the North Korean leader twice referred to soldiers who had "self-blasted" and described them as "heroes who unhesitatingly opted for self-blasting, suicide attack, in order to defend the great honour".

Quote: "They did not expect any compensation, though they performed distinguished feats. They died a heroic death."

Background:

• On 26 April, North Korea opened the Memorial Museum of Foreign Military Operations, which is centred on troops who fought alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.
• The museum also features an exhibition of military equipment captured in Ukraine. Among the exhibits are Leopard 2A4 and M1A1 Abrams tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, AMX-10RC armoured reconnaissance vehicles, VAB armoured personnel carriers and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles.
• Kim attended the opening ceremony alongside other senior North Korean officials. A Russian delegation, led by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, was also present.
• South Korea's National Intelligence Service reported that as of February 2026, about 11,000 North Korean troops were deployed in Russia's frontline Kursk region. Of these, 10,000 were combat troops and 1,000 engineer troops. The intelligence also reported that about 6,000 North Korean soldiers fighting on Moscow's side have been killed or wounded in the war against Ukraine.

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