North Korean troops have resorted to gnawing open their own veins and blowing themselves up with grenades in a bid to avoid capture, Ukrainian soldiers have revealed.
In a startling new development on the frontlines of the war, several Ukrainian soldiers have provided chilling accounts of the tactics and behavior of North Korean troops who reportedly arrived last month to bolster Russian forces in the Kursk region.
The testimonies reveal an almost surreal image of North Korean soldiers, whose outdated strategies and fanatical discipline stand in stark contrast to the grim realities of modern warfare.
According to Ukrainian fighters, speaking to Sky News, North Korean soldiers refuse to be captured alive.
Ukrainian fighters claim they have seen some blow themselves up with grenades rather than surrender, with one soldier even shouting ‘For General Kim Jong Un‘ before detonating an explosive.
This level of fanaticism has left a lasting impression on Ukrainian forces, who describe it as unlike anything they’ve seen in the conflict.
It comes after chilling reports emerged of a North Korean soldier biting through his own wrist after being wounded in the Kursk region, according to a senior military source in Sumy, northern Ukraine, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Independent.
Another soldier, the source alleged, had charged into a concrete pole when he realised he was in danger of being captured.
North Korean soldiers’ faces revealed in first close-up videos as they fight for Putin in the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine
A macabre image is believed to include dead North Koreans killed fighting for Russia in Kursk region
The North Korean soldiers have yet to learn how to use drones. Pictured above is a North Korean soldier who was filmed by a Ukrainian drone
Body armor is stripped away to give Ukrainian soldiers easier access to deceased North Korean soldiers’ documents and other personal items such as military ID cards, dog tags, handwritten notes, and photographs
‘He didn’t realise, at first, that Ukrainian soldiers were closing in on him. When he realised that he was being captured by Ukrainians, he rushed at a concrete pillar [telegraph pole] and hit his head against that pillar with all his strength in the hope of killing himself,’ the Ukrainian military source revealed.
Ukrainian soldiers also claimed the North Koreans initially displayed a startling lack of awareness about the perils posed by drones and artillery.
Attacking on foot in large groups of 20, 40, or even 60 men, their formations evoked comparisons to World War Two-style assaults.
This made them highly vulnerable, often resulting in devastating losses as they walked straight into Ukrainian fire.
Adding to the mystique surrounding these troops is their apparent indoctrination, described by one Ukrainian soldier as ‘brainwashing.’
Witnesses report that the North Koreans seem undeterred by heavy casualties, continuing to push forward even as their comrades fall around them.
Despite being under relentless fire, they exhibit a single-minded determination to achieve their objectives, no matter the cost.
One particularly striking behavior noted by Ukrainian troops is the North Koreans’ obsession with removing evidence of their presence on the battlefield.
Soldiers wearing distinctive white helmets have been observed risking their lives to recover the bodies of their fallen comrades and the wounded.
North Korean troops seen in Russia ahead of deployment
A North Korean soldier is seen hiding from a Ukrainian drone
The first North Korean prisoner of war has been captured by the Ukrainian armed forces, confirmed South Korea’s National Intelligence Service on 27 December 2024
This intense desire to conceal their involvement in the war has raised eyebrows among military analysts.
However, the deployment of North Korean troops has not been without complications.
A significant language barrier between the North Koreans and their Russian counterparts has reportedly caused chaos on the battlefield.
Ukrainian radio intercepts suggest instances of friendly fire, with North Koreans mistakenly targeting Russian positions.
Additionally, their bold but costly assaults on Ukrainian positions have often gone unexploited by Russian forces, leading to wasted opportunities.
Despite these issues, the North Korean soldiers appear to be better equipped than many of their Russian counterparts.
Ukrainian soldiers noted their superior rifles and immaculate uniforms.
However, they lack heavy armor, relying instead on foot mobility and unconventional means of transport, such as golf buggies, to move ammunition.
One Ukrainian soldier, identified as ‘Puls,’ offered a striking description to Sky News of the North Koreans, calling them ‘perfectly groomed, like models.’
He remarked on their clean-shaven faces, well-kept hair, and uniform appearance, making it difficult to discern their ages, though he estimated most to be between 25 and 40-years-old.
North Korean troops in eastern Russia undergoing training ahead of deployment with Vladimir Putin’s forces
North Korean troops in Russia being kitted out with military equipment
The Khorne Group – an organisation linked to Kyiv forces in the 116th separate mechanised brigade and 95th air assault brigade -, shared footage showing what appeared to be North Korean soldiers dumbfounded by a Ukrainian FPV drone above them
These extraordinary accounts paint a vivid and unsettling picture of North Korea’s involvement in the war.
As the conflict continues to evolve, the presence of these disciplined but poorly coordinated soldiers adds yet another layer of complexity to the battlefield dynamics.
The number of North Koreans who have died on the battlefield so far varies according to the source, but Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has put the total as high as 3,000.
Western officials, however, have claimed around 1,000 North Korean troops have been slain.
Ukraine and its Western allies have said Pyongyang has sent 11,000 soldiers to join Russia’s war, but neither Kim Jong-un or Vladimir Putin have officially confirmed this number.
Puls revealed to the news channel that his crew were handed the morbid task of collecting the DNA samples and documents from a unit of around 35 North Korean soldiers who were killed in a drone strike around two weeks ago in Kursk.
In video footage of the tragic act, Ukrainian soldiers are seen placing cotton buds into the mouths of the deceased troops to collect saliva samples, before putting them into evidence bags.
Ukrainian forces then remove the helmets of fallen North Korean soldiers, cutting clumps of hair and bagging them for analysis.
Body armor is also stripped away to give Ukrainian soldiers easier access to documents and other personal items such as military ID cards, dog tags, handwritten notes, and photographs.
Purportedly the moment a North Korean soldier slips over in front of a Ukrainian drone
Ukraine and its Western allies have said Pyongyang has sent 11,000 soldiers to join Russia’s war, but neither Kim Jong-un or Vladimir Putin have officially confirmed this number
Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to reinforce the Russian military
Dramatic video showed the moment Ukraine assaulted North Koreans with drones in Kursk
One soldier, known by the code name ‘Trainer,’ revealed a surprising discovery during these operations: North Korean troops appear to carry shockingly minimal supplies.
Trainer noted that their gear consisted of little more than ammunition and chocolate to sustain them.
‘Not a single soldier had a water bottle,’ he said. ‘They rely on the idea that they will storm through, take positions, and then eat and survive off our supplies.’
The stark simplicity of their provisions underscores the grim fanaticism and single-minded strategy driving these troops, whose tactics have drawn comparisons to outdated, brutal methods from previous wars.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are closely monitoring the movements of Russian and North Korean units amid fears of a large-scale offensive.
There is growing concern that Russia may be preparing a major troop buildup in the Kursk region, with the potential aim of launching a new invasion to extend the front lines or even threaten Kyiv itself.
Reports suggest that more North Korean troops are being deployed to Russia, raising the stakes even further.
However, recent observations hint at a possible shift in the conflict.
Ukrainian soldiers have noticed a drop in the intensity of attacks from the Russian side, with significantly fewer armored vehicles on the battlefield and a reduction in shelling.
These changes could indicate that efforts to dislodge Ukrainian forces in Kursk have been blunted, or they may point to a more ominous possibility: that Russian and North Korean forces are regrouping for a devastating new offensive.
As tensions mount and the battle lines shift, Ukraine braces for what may come next in this unpredictable and increasingly complex conflict.
