Tyrant Kim Jong Un has acknowledged publicly for the first time that North Korean troops have a self-destruct protocol on the battlefields of Ukraine. The dictator made this revelation during the opening of a memorial museum honoring North Korean soldiers who perished in the ongoing conflict. Kim commended the soldiers for their “exceptional heroism” in choosing self-sacrifice through suicide attacks rather than facing capture.

North Korea is the third nation to dispatch a portion of its military to the Ukrainian frontlines. Kim sanctioned sending soldiers to their deaths after striking a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Approximately 15,000 soldiers from North Korea have been deployed to the battlegrounds.

These troops are actively engaged in combat operations and played a crucial role in reclaiming territories in the Kursk region, according to South Korean intelligence. It is estimated that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives in the conflict thus far.

A ceremony honoring the fallen soldiers took place in Pyongyang recently, attended by Kim and Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. Reports from KCNA state that North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia are assisting in mine clearance operations and have displayed unwavering loyalty to Kim.

Kim has been observed embracing soldiers returning from the European frontlines, some of whom are injured and wheelchair-bound. In a previous announcement, Kim declared that nine deceased soldiers from Kursk would be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

During a speech, Kim praised the soldiers, stating, “All of you, both officers and soldiers, displayed mass heroism overcoming unimaginable mental and physical burdens almost every day.”

Kim has referred to the conflict in Ukraine as a “new history of friendship with Russia written in blood” and a “sacred war to eliminate the Ukrainian armed intruders.” Discussions between Kim and Belousov have centered on a military cooperation agreement spanning from 2027 to 2031, as reported by the Independent.

While the war continues in Europe, North Korea has seized the opportunity to conduct live weapons tests alongside an extensive missile testing program.