Kim praises North Korean soldiers who blew themselves up to evade Ukraine capture

"Kim Jong-un praised North Korean soldiers who blew themselves up with grenades to avoid capture, confirming the existence of an extreme battlefield policy. He referred to these soldiers as heroes for their self-destruction in defense of honor."

"Evidence from intelligence reports and defectors indicates that North Korean soldiers are explicitly instructed to resort to self-detonation to avoid falling into enemy hands, highlighting the extreme measures taken in warfare."

"In a speech, Kim Jong-un acknowledged the sacrifices of those who survived and expressed that even those who failed to fulfill their duty due to injuries can be considered loyal warriors of the party."

North Korean soldiers have been instructed to commit suicide rather than be captured, a policy confirmed by Kim Jong-un. In 2024, approximately 14,000 elite troops were deployed to support Russia in the Ukraine conflict, resulting in over 6,000 casualties. Two captured soldiers expressed guilt for failing to detonate themselves due to injuries. Kim praised the soldiers' sacrifices in a speech, referring to them as heroes and loyal warriors, emphasizing their commitment to honor and duty in battle.

Read at www.theguardian.com