North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised soldiers who committed suicide to avoid capture while fighting against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.

According to reports, North Korea sent an estimated 14,000 troops to assist Russian forces in the region. South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western officials said the contingent suffered heavy losses, with more than 6,000 North Korean soldiers killed in the fighting. 

Growing evidence—including intelligence findings and accounts from defectors—suggests that some North Korean troops chose self-detonation of explosives or other forms of suicide as an alternative to being taken captive.

Speaking at a ceremony held to honour North Korean soldiers— attended by Russian officials and bereaved families—Kim for the first time publicly acknowledged these acts. He described those who chose

the path of self-destruction and suicide to defend great honor 

as “heroes,” while also praising those who died charging at the forefront of assault battles. He added that even surviving soldiers who felt they had failed in their duty could still be regarded as loyal warriors and patriots.

Kim’s remarks come as North Korea continues to stand firmly behind Russia’s war in Ukraine, which it has described as a “sacred” effort to defend its territorial and security interests. Pyongyang has supplied missiles, munitions, and troops to Moscow.

In return, North Korea has received economic support and military technology assistance from Russia, according to South Korean intelligence assessments.