Kim Jong Un Confirms Suicide-Over-Capture Policy for North Korean Troops Deployed to Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has confirmed a state policy requiring his country's military personnel fighting for Russia to take their own lives to avoid being taken prisoner.

This confirmation was made during the opening of a memorial in Pyongyang dedicated to North Korean soldiers killed during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Bloomberg on April 28.

During the ceremony, the North Korean leader spoke about soldiers who destroyed themselves "without hesitation" to "protect the great honor." He stated that these individuals "did not expect any reward" while performing "outstanding feats." Kim described these actions as a "heroic death."

Intelligence reports from South Korea and Western nations indicate that Pyongyang has sent at least 10,000 soldiers and thousands of shipping containers filled with weapons to Russia. This support followed the signing of a military pact between the two countries in 2024.

Reports regarding orders for soldiers to commit suicide instead of surrendering have circulated since the deployment began. Data from South Korean intelligence suggests that nearly 2,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed in the war by September 2025.

The military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has expanded significantly since early 2024. In January of that year, Western media and the United States confirmed that Russia had received and utilized North Korean short-range ballistic missiles. By October 2024, the first group of approximately 12,000 North Korean troops arrived at the front lines. An additional 3,000 soldiers were sent in March 2025, according to Babel.

While both nations initially denied the presence of these troops, Russia officially acknowledged the involvement of North Korean military personnel on April 26, 2025. Two days later, North Korea confirmed its military participation in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, specifically noting their presence in the Kursk region.

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In July 2025, Ukrainian intelligence reported that North Korea planned to triple its military presence by sending an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers to support Russian forces. Most recently, on April 27, 2026, the North Korean government opened a memorial museum in Pyongyang to honor the soldiers who participated in the war alongside Russia.

Earlier reports in November 2025 indicated that Kim Jong Un instructed his troops deployed to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to kill themselves with grenades rather than risk being captured. According to sources, these units underwent political indoctrination sessions twice a week where commanders glorified soldiers who had blown themselves up on the battlefield.

The acts of suicide are framed as the ultimate demonstration of loyalty to the Kim family, using slogans that encouraged troops to "learn from the warriors who blew themselves up" to achieve "eternal life." Seoul-based experts argued that this doctrine reflected a complete disregard for the lives of the soldiers being sent to fight in a foreign war.

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