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Kim Jong Un Inaugurates Memorial Museum for North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine Conflict
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly confirmed a policy requiring soldiers to kill themselves to avoid capture while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine. He made the statement during the inauguration of a memorial museum in Pyongyang dedicated to fallen North Korean troops.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the opening of a memorial museum in Pyongyang on Sunday, dedicated to soldiers from his country who died while deployed in support of Russia's military operations in Ukraine, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The event coincided with the first anniversary of Russia's recapture of the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces had partially occupied in 2024. Kim was joined by Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, with the ceremony including military displays such as jets flying overhead and balloons released near graves of fallen soldiers.
In a speech reported by KCNA, Kim stated that North Korean troops followed a policy of avoiding capture, with some choosing "self-blasting" or "suicide attack" to protect the country's honor.
South Korean intelligence, as cited in reports from The Independent and BBC News, estimates that approximately 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia for combat roles, including in the Kursk region, with around 2,000 fatalities. Ukrainian officials have claimed that up to 30,000 North Korean troops could be deployed, though no official figures have been released by Russia or North Korea.
The presence of North Korean forces in Russia was first reported in October 2024.
According to a Ukrainian military source quoted by The Independent's Sam Kiley, two North Korean soldiers have been captured alive, including one wounded in Kursk who attempted to bite his wrists to avoid imprisonment. The Independent reported in January 2025 that North Korean troops were instructed to take extreme measures to prevent capture.
Kim told Belousov, per KCNA, that North Korea would "fully support" Russia's efforts to defend its "national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests," predicting a Russian victory in the "just sacred war." Belousov discussed potential long-term military cooperation, including a possible agreement for 2027-2031, according to sources including France 24 and ZeroHedge.
