North Korea’s Kim Hails Soldiers Who Took Own Lives to Avoid Capture

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised troops who reportedly took their own lives while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine war, describing them as “heroes” who chose death over capture.

According to state media and multiple international reports, Kim made the remarks during a memorial ceremony honouring North Korean soldiers who died in combat operations in Russia’s Kursk region.

The comments mark one of the clearest acknowledgements by Pyongyang of the extreme measures taken by its troops deployed to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Intelligence estimates from South Korean and Western officials suggest that North Korea deployed around 14,000 troops to assist Russian forces, with more than 6,000 believed to have been killed or wounded in the fighting.

Reports indicate that some soldiers resorted to suicide, including self-detonation, rather than risk capture by Ukrainian forces, a practice analysts say may be tied to strict military doctrine and fears of interrogation or reprisals against families back home.

During his address, Kim praised not only those who died in combat but also those who chose “self-destruction” to protect national honour, framing their actions as acts of patriotism.

The development underscores the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, with Pyongyang reportedly supplying troops, weapons, and ammunition in exchange for economic aid and military technology.

Analysts say the revelation raises fresh concerns about the human cost of the conflict and the conditions under which North Korean troops are operating, as well as broader implications for the evolving alliance between the two countries.