North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised soldiers who reportedly took their own lives to avoid capture in Russia's war against Ukraine, calling it a 'historic death in order to defend the great honour.'
The tactic, known as 'self-blasting,' involves soldiers ending their own lives on the battlefield rather than being captured, and has drawn attention following Kim's remarks.
Kim's comments come after earlier reports that North Korean troops in Ukraine were instructed to avoid capture at all costs, including by ending their own lives.
A memorial museum was unveiled in Pyongyang to honour the soldiers who lost their lives fighting Russia's war, with top leaders of North Korea and Russia pledging a push for greater cooperation.
The two countries signed a military pact in 2024, which includes a mutual defence clause, and have fought together to repel a Ukraine incursion into Russia's Kursk border region.
South Korea's intelligence agency estimated that around 15,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Ukraine, with approximately 2,000 reported killed.
