Reports from South Korea's National Intelligence Service or official statements from Ukraine or Russia

South Korea: Over 300 North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine, Troops Told to Commit Suicide if Captured

Jan 13, 2025, 05:11 AM

South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that North Korean troop fatalities and injuries in Ukraine have likely exceeded 3,000, including approximately 300 deaths and 2,700 injuries. According to South Korean lawmakers briefed by the spy agency, North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces have been instructed by their authorities to kill themselves rather than be captured. In one instance, a North Korean soldier attempted to self-detonate a grenade while shouting 'General Kim Jong Un' but was shot dead by Ukrainian forces. Additionally, over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv had captured two injured North Korean soldiers, releasing video footage of the combatants.