“According to reports, North Korean soldiers dispatched to the Ukraine front, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are attempting self-harm or extreme measures instead of surrendering to or being captured by Ukrainian forces, with testimonies highlighting trees on the battlefield as chosen locations for such acts.
On the 5th of [local time], the Ukrainian military Telegram channel ‘Brati po Zbroi’ (Comrades in Arms) reported that systematic extreme measures are occurring among North Korean soldiers deployed on the Kursk front, accompanied by the release of relevant photographs.
The released photographs show a tree with the word ‘Sky’ written in Korean, with a rope tied around its branches, and the corpse of a deceased soldier positioned beneath it.
Reports continue to emerge that North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia are choosing extreme measures instead of surrender or capture by Ukrainian forces.
It has also been reported that last month, captured North Korean soldiers attempted to find grenades and hit their heads against concrete pillars before being caught.
Some analysts suggest that in North Korea, becoming a prisoner of war is considered a form of ‘betrayal,’ and that these extreme measures may be an attempt to protect the family left behind in North Korea.”