Kim Jong Un orders troops in Ukraine to detonate grenades rather than be captured
Photo: Kim Jong Un and Putin (Getty Images)
The war in Ukraine has long moved beyond the scope of a regional conflict, something Russia actively fuels by deploying mercenaries to the front. But the situation involving a North Korean soldier goes far beyond comprehension, according to a publication by the South Korean outlet Daily NK.
South Korean media report that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, when sending his soldiers to the front in Ukraine, orders them to blow themselves up with grenades rather than surrender to the Ukrainians.
Methods of indoctrination and propaganda in North Korea
To ensure that North Korean fighters are not afraid to detonate themselves in battle, they are now subjected to political training sessions twice a week, during which the "heroic merits" of North Korean soldiers who chose to blow themselves up on the battlefield are highlighted.
It is also emphasised that the bravery of North Korean troops supposedly exceeds that of Russian forces, who are described as largely unwilling to sacrifice their lives instead of surrendering to the enemy.
The classes are conducted with messaging similar to that used for so-called martyr-fighters in certain militant groups, conditioning North Korean soldiers to believe that dying in a "heroic act" grants them eternal life.
A new slogan has even emerged: "Let’s learn from the warriors who blew themselves up."
Sources in South Korea confirm that propaganda of this kind reflects the North Korean regime’s complete disregard for its own citizens, who are being sent to the front lines of a third country to die for those whom Pyongyang claims to call allies.
What is known about North Korea's involvement in war against Ukraine
A Russian delegation recently visited North Korea to discuss the possible deployment of North Korean mercenaries, including soldiers and sappers, to join the conflict in Ukraine, reportedly with approval from North Korea’s leadership.
Russia also plans to bring in up to 12,000 North Korean workers for the special economic zone Alabuga in Tatarstan, where Shahed/Geran drones used against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure are manufactured.
North Korean troops continue supporting Russian operations in occupied territories, deepening cooperation between the two regimes and demonstrating Pyongyang’s involvement in the war in Ukraine.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, North Korean units that earlier helped repel Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Kursk region are now engaged in demining operations. Meanwhile, South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western sources estimate that roughly 14,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to the conflict zone, more than 6,000 of whom have been killed.
North Korea recently threatened possible "offensive actions" in response to joint US–South Korean security measures. Its latest missile launch toward the Sea of Japan was also framed as retaliation for recent US sanctions against individuals and organisations suspected of involvement in cyber-enabled money laundering schemes.
North Korea is considering a possible meeting between Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump, after the idea surfaced during the US president’s recent trip to Asia.
