Kim Jong Un praised North Korean troops who fought in Russia’s Kursk region for choosing “self-detonation” to avoid capture.

He made the remarks during a memorial ceremony honoring soldiers killed while supporting Russia’s war effort in Russia.

Western and South Korean officials estimate North Korea sent thousands of elite troops to assist Russian operations in the area.

Reports from Ukraine previously described instances of North Korean soldiers using extreme tactics and taking heavy casualties in combat, Business Insider has reported.

The statement highlights deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.