Kim Jong Un praises suicides among North Korean military in Kursk Oblast

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated during a public address that among North Korean soldiers who participated in combat operations in the Kursk region, there were instances of soldiers choosing to take their own lives rather than be captured by Ukrainian forces. He described such actions as a "heroic death."

Bloomberg reports on this.

He made the statement during the opening ceremony of a memorial honoring DPRK soldiers who died in the war against Ukraine. The event was attended by the families of the deceased and representatives of the russian leadership.

In his speech, Kim Jong Un repeatedly mentioned soldiers who, in his words, "without hesitation" blew themselves up to avoid capture and "preserve their honor." He also noted that these soldiers did not expect rewards, despite their actions, which he described as "outstanding feats."

What is known about the North Korean troops in the Kursk Oblast?

The first North Korean troops arrived in the Kursk Oblast as early as October 2024, and in March 2025, Pyongyang sent another 3,000 soldiers. In April, russia officially acknowledged their participation in the war for the first time, and the DPRK confirmed this.

According to Seoul, of the 15,000 DPRK troops, about 4,700 have already been lost, 600 of whom were killed. In addition to manpower, Pyongyang is supplying moscow with ammunition and missiles: dozens of ballistic missiles, up to 6 million shells, and plans to deliver another 150 missiles in 2025. Ukrainian intelligence predicts that the DPRK may increase its contingent to 30,000 troops.

In August 2025, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un held an awards ceremony for soldiers who fought against Ukraine during the battles in the Kursk Oblast.

North Korea held a military parade featuring units that fought against Ukraine on the side of the aggressor country, russia.