ListNook

bloomberg Apr 28, 2026 +405

*From Bloomberg News reporter Cat Barton:* North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed a policy that requires soldiers to commit suicide on the battlefield to avoid capture, while fighting Russia’s war against Ukraine. Speaking at an event to inaugurate a memorial in Pyongyang for North Koreans who have died in Ukraine, Kim twice mentioned soldiers who had “self-blasted,” according to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency. “Heroes who unhesitatingly opted for self-blasting, suicide attack, in order to defend the great honor” were praised by Kim in the speech given to bereaved families and top Russian officials. “They did not expect any compensation, though they performed distinguished feats,” he added. “They died a heroic death.”

405

thegoatmenace Apr 28, 2026 +337

“Self-blasting” simply cannot be the most accurate translation. It just sounds so undignified and almost silly.

337

Echo4117 Apr 28, 2026 +139

self-destruct. The words translates to self explosion

139

thegoatmenace Apr 28, 2026 +31

See that’s much better thanks

31

J_Class_Ford Apr 28, 2026 +1

I have exploded before.

1

whorificustotalus Apr 28, 2026 +1

It's not better because that term is used for machines only. People commit a suicide, they don't "self-destruct".

1

psychicsword Apr 28, 2026 +1

It is still better than self-blast which is not a real phrase.

1

Peripatetictyl Apr 28, 2026 +1

I drag you down, I use you up, *Ooooohhh*, *Mr Self Destruct!*

1

aegookja Apr 28, 2026 +1

I agree. 자폭 (japok) usually translates to "self destruct", not "self blasting".

1

Wetalpaca Apr 28, 2026 +1

"self blasting" is unhinged, it sounds like a gooning term

1

falsevector Apr 28, 2026 +1

Ukranian soldier - sir, we captured a North Korean! He appeared to have misunderstood what self blasting should mean

1

Implausibilibuddy Apr 28, 2026 +35

They KoreAnHeroed themselves.

35

ohaiguys Apr 28, 2026 +1

It’s an old meme sir but it checks out

1

Donnermeat_and_chips Apr 28, 2026 +1

Budd Dwyer smiles on you

1

franklollo Apr 28, 2026 +1

They kill jong un themselves

1

TonyTheTerrible Apr 28, 2026 +1

Coined by Ann Hiro

1

paradox-preacher Apr 28, 2026 +32

I already use that for something else

32

SuperMonkeyJoe Apr 28, 2026 +1

Like the Japanese pilots that launched divine wind attacks at American ships in WW2. Some things just don't translate well.

1

Sea_School8272 Apr 28, 2026 +6

„The Great Heroic Pink Mist of Korean Heroism“ maybe?

6

frank_the_tank69 Apr 28, 2026 +3

As silly as killing yourself for this fat turd

3

Fresh_Individual5500 Apr 28, 2026 +64

Heroic death = no need for prisoner exchange

64

SeraphOfTheStart Apr 28, 2026 +36

Or any secrets leaking out from a very secluded country

36

ChiefInternetSurfer Apr 28, 2026 +1

Also equals “*we won’t murder or imprison your family.*”

1

foul_ol_ron Apr 28, 2026 +1

>They did not expect any compensation Which is probably just as well.

1

spidereater Apr 28, 2026 +1

I assume if they are captured their families will be at risk. So more of a stick over carrot situation.

1

Mo_Jack Apr 28, 2026 +1

They don't want any POWs because they would tell people what really goes on in N Korea and also beg for asylum.

1

Oodlemeister Apr 28, 2026 +1

“Please do not get captured by people who will treat you fairly as a POW and perhaps give you asylum and a better life. Much better for you to kill yourself instead…for the good of the country.”

1

hughranass2 Apr 28, 2026 +1

Self blasted? And what great honor are they defending in a war that really has nothing to do with them? I'm not sure what this guy is trying to prove. Other than that Ukrainian forces are really good at killing.

1

OrangutanFirefighter Apr 28, 2026 +1

This is the year f****** 2026 how come we still have humans that get brainwashed into self blasting to make psychopaths happy. Ffs

1

COYSBannedagain Apr 28, 2026 +500

So anyways, I started self blasting

500

santathe1 Apr 28, 2026 +1

I self blasted last night.

1

Ambitious_Wolf_3116 Apr 28, 2026 +1

Last night? Amateurs. I'm blasting right now typing this

1

elvenmaster_ Apr 28, 2026 +1

I read that with NileRed's voice. Should I expect an episode where he makes some Apple cider using self-blasted NK soldiers ? Edit : stealth autocorrect is c***.

1

philonrapist Apr 28, 2026 +1

I hope you're doing that in pirate

1

jetklok Apr 28, 2026 +1

You're just mashin it now

1

tanaephis77400 Apr 28, 2026 +168

Piece of shit. Go on Kim, you first !

168

haltmeinmaul Apr 28, 2026 +36

Not heroic enough, eh Kim?

36

can_belch_alphabet Apr 28, 2026 +6

I always wanted to play 'stop hitting yourself' with his dad. He had the perfect little T-rex arms for it.

6

itkovian Apr 28, 2026 +10

Lead by example, right?

10

The_Frostweaver Apr 28, 2026 +64

Being prisoners of war would expose how shitty life in North Korea is. They make their soldiers commit suicide for the same reason they don't allow tv and kpop from south korea in north korea. Kim is very afraid if his people realise how much better life is outside his shitty dictatorship they will revolt.

64

RapaNow Apr 28, 2026 +9

>Being prisoners of war would expose how shitty life in North Korea is. Most of them already know because ... > they don't allow tv and kpop from south korea in north korea. ... they still have access to those. Watching SK stuff is very wide spread in NK - especially near northern border. If caught the punishments vary from mild to extremely harsh.

9

Melo_Apologist Apr 28, 2026 +1

Yeah I think South Korea keeps broadcasting an analogue TV-signal near the border for exactly that reason, even after switching to digital nationwide

1

RapaNow Apr 28, 2026 +1

And the northern border, Yalu river, can be crossed relatively easily - especially if you have some yuans. USB sticks are easy to carry, and are wanted items. Near the northern border Chinese mobile service is also accessible.

1

Ambitious_Wolf_3116 Apr 28, 2026 +1

Don't they hang people for watching tv shows? Or distributing those usbs with tv shows

1

RapaNow Apr 28, 2026 +1

No. I've read a few books, by defectors, and books about defectors. The situation changes quite a bit, depending on ... whichever way the wind blows. Either way first time possession of TV shows is never a capital offense. It does decrease your class/caste (songbun). Distributing TV shows is likely to throw you in camps, especially multiple offenses. And there is different types of camps, too. Some of which mean de-facto death sentence. And after a sentence you might not be released, if there is no-one to release you. It's not like you have much chances of demanding your rights while in a camp. And corruption is rife, so with money you can get away from most offenses. Edit: And watching them is rather common, but at most with close family. Some people have said that they have watched series with neighbors, but that can be very risky.

1

Ambitious_Wolf_3116 Apr 28, 2026 +1

https://nypost.com/2026/02/07/world-news/north-korea-executed-schoolchildren-for-watching-squid-game/ I asked because of news articles like these. I do remember seeing in the news a year or so ago that two people got the death sentence for distributing tv shows. Is the death sentence just for your second offense or something?

1

sillysalmonella87 Apr 28, 2026 +1

They have a vast network of signal jammers at the DMZ. It's pretty crazy. I've been there.

1

CyanConatus Apr 28, 2026 +63

Dannng the family didn't even receive compensation. Even imperial Japan in Ww2 has compensation to family for that

63

Tunggall Apr 28, 2026 +27

Yup, the NK regime are worse than the IJA.

27

young_arkas Apr 28, 2026 +22

They already have the privilege of living in the perfect workers and peasants paradise. What else could they desire? /s obviously

22

Veginite Apr 28, 2026 +1

I mean who wouldn't want to live to fund the lavish lifestyle of a morbidly obese heir to a self-proclaimed god and his minions?

1

Teripid Apr 28, 2026 +1

The "compensation" may just be your family not suffering horrible treatment / imprisonment.

1

bappestinian Apr 28, 2026 +62

I remember when they discovered p*** for the first time and the russians recorded them “self-blasting” in their dorms.

62

praqueviver Apr 28, 2026 +19

Self-blasting periodically is good for prostate health

19

TheMemo Apr 28, 2026 +1

Then my ass must be immortal.

1

Kombatwombat02 Apr 28, 2026 +15

Assuming he gave the speech in Korean, can anyone fluent weigh in here and tell us if ‘self-blasted’ is an accurate translation in context? It might be literally correct, but it seems a deliberately sensationalist translation.

15

SoulBonfire Apr 28, 2026 +8

Yes, a better headline might be “NK soldiers forced into sticky situation”.

8

ApocalypseYay Apr 28, 2026 +11

Evil sociopath.

11

Ancient-Bat1755 Apr 28, 2026 +67

The irony of communists expanding imperialistic expansion goals never gets old

67

xmuskorx Apr 28, 2026 +1

It's almost like "anti imperialism" was Always a lie

1

Ancient-Bat1755 Apr 28, 2026 +1

China is somehow bigger than it was under the last dynasty

1

xmuskorx Apr 28, 2026 +1

American left has mostly forgotten that Tibet need to be freed. Too busy with obviously imperialist Jewish state that is the size of new Jersey....

1

smalldickbigwallet Apr 28, 2026 +31

I think you mean dictators?

31

P4cer0 Apr 28, 2026 +58

Communists doing imperialism is ironic because they are supposedly anti imperialist. Dictators doing imperialism is classic.

58

smalldickbigwallet Apr 28, 2026 +9

I understand. The problem is that NK are barely communists, and they aren't expanding. Rather trading deaths of their citizens for Russian money and military tech.

9

orgazmatron9000 Apr 28, 2026 +27

Listnook level argument. The self proclaimed communist country aiding an imperialist nation violently expanding isn't communist or doing imperialism.

27

therwsb Apr 28, 2026 +17

They also proclaim themselves as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

17

Iselkractokidz Apr 28, 2026 +1

They are none of those.

1

qwertyqyle Apr 28, 2026 -4

The ideology is Juche (self-reliance), a doctrine emphasizing political independence, economic self-sustenance, and military autonomy. They are technically a democracy in that they hold an election every so many years. But its still essentially a one-party state and if you dont for for Kim, well, I don't even want to know what would happen to you. And they are very much socialist. Free housing, the state gives you a job and a spouse (yay!), etc.

-4

ThomYorkeSoup Apr 28, 2026 +7

They are socialist in appearance only, the only way they are socialist is if your definition of socialism is 'the government owns everything'. North Korea is ruled under a hereditary dynasty and the power is concentrated at the very top, with only secondary focus on their economy, the primary focus being to maintain power at the top at all costs. They are much closer to a totalitarian autocracy.

7

raptorlightning Apr 28, 2026 +7

Socialism is when the people (workers) own the companies (means of production). It is not when the government gives you free shit.

7

qwertyqyle Apr 28, 2026

Oh. What is it called when the government gives you free shit? I honestly thought that when the people (workers) own the companies (means of production) would be considered commies.

0

[deleted] Apr 28, 2026 -1

[deleted]

-1

thegoatmenace Apr 28, 2026

Yes, socialism is as varied in its implementation as capitalism and democracy. Most countries implement at least some degree of socialist ideology into their political system. I think it’s safe to say that North Korea can be classified as socialist because 1.) the Workers Party of Korea that runs the country began as an explicitly Marxist-Leninist political movement, and 2.) the Juche Ideology was originally based on Marxist-Leninist thought. Just because a country is not utopian does not mean it can’t still be classified as socialist.

0

Evenstar6132 Apr 28, 2026 +1

Most of North Korea's socialist programs (free housing, rations, jobs, etc.) stopped functioning after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Arduous March that followed. Except for the few party elites who get to live in Pyongyang, North Koreans have to get everything from black markets. Even with the loosest definitions of communism/socialism, North Korea is hardly one.

1

RapaNow Apr 28, 2026 +7

> The self proclaimed communist country They haven't proclaimed to be communist since 1990s.

7

catscanmeow Apr 28, 2026 +1

yeah we can play the same game and say america isnt real capitalism

1

TheCatOfWar Apr 28, 2026 +1

Isn't NK literally the most communist country in the world, currently speaking? Like China, Vietnam etc are 'communist' in terms of government one party state etc but in practice are basically just capitalist with a high level of state control. But isn't North Korea still basically the same system as the USSR with no private ownership/enterprise, government controlled production and targets etc? Perhaps not 'true communist' in the academic sense but among the closest any real government has come.

1

Aggravating-Dot132 Apr 28, 2026 -8

Dictators don't usually have imperialistic ambitions since it almost always ends bad for them. That's why they focus on internal power. There are morons like in this articles, that create a religious cult around them, but that's another story.

-8

LlamaMan777 Apr 28, 2026 +10

You're... Kidding, right? I'm missing the /s ... Right?

10

Hot_Campaign_36 Apr 28, 2026 +6

It’s unconscionable that he send conscripts to kill Ukrainians. Capture, presumed dead, and anonymous liberation is the best outcome Un’s cannon fodder can hope for. Stop the blasting.

6

Sir_Edna_Bucket Apr 28, 2026 +1

"Dad!! Wun Hunglow is self blasting in his bedroom again!!!

1

Massive-Anywhere8497 Apr 28, 2026 +2

His stomach looks like it has self blasted

2

joe6pak Apr 28, 2026 +2

"I have done it, quite often actually, I only ask that you do it once!"

2

mikeysz Apr 28, 2026 +1

If he eats a bit more he will self-blast too. Asia’s monsieur Creosote

1

dumbnaturedude Apr 28, 2026 +3

One less mouth to feed... Says kimmy...

3

Jacques-de-lad Apr 28, 2026 +1

For the last time it’s ‘crankin’ hog!’ Not ‘self blasting’ and the policy is no one than four times a day

1

Jabulon Apr 28, 2026 +1

is that legal? to ask soldiers to suicide over territorial disputes?

1

geoduude92 Apr 28, 2026 +1

The new unaliving has dropped

1

spideyghetti Apr 28, 2026 -2

I don't know if they wanted money or something more sexual, but it's a lucky thing I had my pieces - my guns! - so, anyway, I started self-blasting!

-2

BetSquare7190 Apr 28, 2026 -46

Leftists are having a blast.

-46

Kim Jong Un Confirms Soldier ‘Self-Blasting’ Policy in Ukraine

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