North Korean soldiers deployed on the Kursk front in Russia (Seoul=Yonhap News) Korean Central Television released combat video footage of North Korean soldiers participating in the Ukraine war on the evening of the 31st of last month at around 9:10 PM. 2025.9.1 [Captured by Korean Central Television]

The circumstances under which North Korean soldiers deployed on the Kursk front in Russia lost their lives in suicide tactics reminiscent of 'kamikaze' (suicide commandos) have been revealed through North Korean media.

Korean Central Television released combat video footage of North Korean soldiers participating in the Ukraine war on the evening of the 31st of last month.

The TV praised the "heroic spirit of sacrifice" by listing cases of wounded soldiers with young faces choosing suicide rather than surrender just before being captured, or taking their own lives to avoid becoming a burden to their comrades.

It lauded Yoon Jeong-hyeok (20) and Woo Wi-hyeok (19), members of the Youth League, saying, "When they were surrounded by the enemy, they embraced each other and detonated grenades, heroically committing suicide."

Another Youth League member, Ri Gwang-eun (22), recounted, "When fellow soldiers who came to rescue me when I was wounded fell to enemy fire, I decided to commit suicide and detonated a grenade, but only my left arm was blown off. So, I took another grenade with my right hand and put it to my head, heroically committing suicide."

North Korean soldiers deployed on the Kursk front in Russia (Seoul=Yonhap News) Korean Central Television released combat video footage of North Korean soldiers participating in the Ukraine war on the evening of the 31st of last month at around 9:10 PM. 2025.9.1 [Captured by Korean Central Television]

North Korea also revealed that its soldiers were used as 'human shields' and expended.

Lim Hong-nam (20), a member of the Youth League, stated, "While carrying out a mine clearance mission to open a passage, as the attack time approached, I ran through the minefield and cleared the passage with my body, heroically sacrificing my life."

Ham Jeong-hyeon (31), a member of the Workers' Party of Korea, said, "During the attack, I blocked an enemy suicide drone with my own body, saving 15 combatants, and heroically sacrificed my life."

The TV displayed hundreds of names of these fallen soldiers on screen and praised them, saying, "The youth thus sacrificed was not the end of a precious life, but the beginning of a glorious eternal life."

North Korean soldiers deployed on the Kursk front in Russia (Seoul=Yonhap News) Korean Central Television released combat video footage of North Korean soldiers participating in the Ukraine war on the evening of the 31st of last month at around 9:10 PM. 2025.9.1 [Captured by Korean Central Television]

It appears that the North Korean military continued its ideological education even on the front lines where casualties were frequent.

In particular, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, sent letters to the dispatched soldiers multiple times to encourage morale.

In one letter released by the TV, Chairman Kim wrote, "I pray and pray for the souls of our brave and sacrificing military officers and soldiers who faithfully carried out the orders of our homeland in a distant land," adding, "You must carefully collect their bodies and bring them to me after our victory."

In his New Year's letter on January 1st of this year, he stated, "Because you are spilling blood to protect the prosperity and honor of our homeland amidst the harsh battle smoke, the environment for the nation's development is being firmly protected," and urged, "Please all return safely."

However, these circumstances were not shared at all with the residents within North Korea.

In the video, it was revealed that the dispatched North Korean soldiers were transported by Russian aircraft in the middle of the night.

North Korean soldiers deployed on the Kursk front in Russia (Seoul=Yonhap News) Korean Central Television released combat video footage of North Korean soldiers participating in the Ukraine war on the evening of the 31st of last month at around 9:10 PM. The soldiers are seen being transported by aircraft in the middle of the night. 2025.9.1 [Captured by Korean Central Television]

The TV explained, "When leaving for the battlefield in a distant land, there were no farewells from beloved parents or families, nor grand send-off ceremonies. Not even many people knew about the participation in the war," revealing that the dispatched troops moved secretly.

Chairman Kim also wrote in his New Year's letter, "Although there has been no official announcement yet and no one is speaking about it, it felt as if tens of thousands of people gathered in the venue were sending blessings and wishes for safety to you all in their hearts."

Chairman Kim officially decided on the dispatch of troops on August 28th of last year, and the actual dispatch took place at the end of October last year.

It was not until April 28th of this year, six months after the dispatch, that North Korea informed its public of the participation in the war through its state-run media.

North Korea is disclosing the decision-making process before and after the dispatch, including the release on Korean Central Television last month of a document titled 'Operation Plan for the Liberation of Kursk and Related Briefings' signed by Chairman Kim.

Furthermore, last month, it held two large-scale veteran events to console the bereaved families of fallen soldiers, escalating pressure on Russia for compensation.

North Korean soldiers deployed on the Kursk front in Russia (Seoul=Yonhap News) Korean Central Television released combat video footage of North Korean soldiers participating in the Ukraine war on the evening of the 31st of last month at around 9:10 PM. North Korean military officials are seen in tactical discussions with Russian forces. 2025.9.1 [Captured by Korean Central Television]

Yonhap News