A diary reportedly recovered from a deceased North Korean soldier, Pvt. Gyeong Hong Jong, sheds light on the alleged involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s fight against Ukraine in the Kursk region.
Excerpts from Gyeong’s diary were released by the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine on social media on Saturday. The excerpts provide a chilling perspective on the lives of soldiers and the complexity of their role in the conflict.
The diary includes tactical instructions, such as using soldiers as bait to lure Ukrainian drones. One excerpt describes how to “eliminate” drones by forming a trio, with one soldier drawing the drone’s attention while others attack.
To avoid artillery, the diary advises scattering into small groups or taking shelter in areas already hit.
The diary also reveals deep loyalty to North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. Gyeong wrote of his past “betrayal” of the party and how the military gave him a second chance. His entries express a willingness to sacrifice his life for his homeland and leader.
“The soldier, who Russia tried to cover as a local Tuvan nation with fake IDs, confessed to being deployed as punishment under orders from warmongering Kim Jong Un. In his diary, he expressed loyalty to Kim, vowing to sacrifice his life. Ironically, he fulfilled that vow,” Special Operations Forces of Ukraine wrote on X.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials describe the use of North Korean troops as human wave tactics, leading to significant casualties. According to an AFP report, Over 1,000 North Koreans are estimated to have died or been injured in a single week. Reports suggest some soldiers also took their own lives to avoid capture, fearing repercussions for their families back home.
Neither Russia nor North Korea has acknowledged the deployment of North Korean forces.