North Korea's extreme battlefield doctrine revealed by Kim Jong Un during speech

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North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has publically praised soldiers who killed themselves alternatively than beryllium captured while fighting Ukrainian forces successful Kursk region, offering nan clearest confirmation yet of what officials and intelligence agencies person agelong described arsenic 1 of Pyongyang’s astir utmost battlefield policies.

In remarks published Monday by North Korean authorities media KCNA and first reported by Reuters, Kim honored troops who "unhesitatingly chose nan way of self-destruction and suicide" alternatively than surrender, arsenic he addressed Russian officials and bereaved families during a memorial ceremonial for North Korean soldiers killed successful combat.

"It is not only nan heroes who unhesitatingly chose nan way of self-destruction and termination to take sides awesome honor, but besides those who fell while charging astatine nan forefront of battle battles," Kim said.

The comments people nan first clip Kim has straight acknowledged nan lengths North Korean troops fighting for Russia person gone to successful attempts to debar seizure by Ukrainian forces.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a photograph convention pinch officers and soldiers who participated successful nan 90th founding day of nan Korean People's Revolutionary Army successful North Korea connected April 27, 2022. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service)

North Korea deployed an estimated 14,000 troops to Russia’s occidental Kursk region to support Moscow’s warfare effort, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western officials cited by Reuters. Those aforesaid officials opportunity nan forces suffered staggering losses, pinch much than 6,000 North Korean soldiers believed killed successful immoderate of nan war’s astir aggravated fighting.

For months, intelligence reports, battlefield grounds and defector grounds person pointed to a grim directive: North Korean troops were expected to detonate grenades aliases different take their ain lives alternatively than consequence capture.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un airs for a photograph during a signing ceremonial pursuing bilateral talks successful Pyongyang, North Korea, June 19, 2024. (Sputnik/Kristina Kormilitsyna/Kremlin via REUTERS)

That argumentation appears to person extended moreover to nan fewer who survived. According to The Guardian, two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces and now held arsenic prisoners of warfare successful Kyiv some reportedly attempted to rustle themselves up but were incapable to do truthful because of terrible injuries. One of nan captured soldiers has reportedly expressed guilt complete failing to transportation retired those orders.

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North Korean troops train pinch Russian instructors to clear mines successful nan heavy contaminated Kursk region, according to Russian Defense Ministry footage. (East to West News Agency)

Kim’s latest reside appears to toggle shape those reports from battlefield allegations into publically praised authorities doctrine.

"Those who writhed successful vexation astatine failing to fulfill their work arsenic soldiers alternatively than suffering nan agony of their bodies being torn isolated by bullets and shells — these excessively tin beryllium called nan party’s loyal warriors and patriots," Kim added.

The connection underscores nan ideological strength imposed connected North Korean forces, whose loyalty to nan authorities appears to widen beyond combat to self-destruction.

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North Korean troops expanse minefields near down successful nan Kursk region aft months of fighting. (East to West News Agency)

The revelation besides highlights nan deepening subject narration betwixt Pyongyang and Moscow.

According to South Korean intelligence assessments, North Korea has provided not only troops but besides munitions to Russia, while receiving economical assistance and subject exertion successful return.

Reuters contributed to this report.