Foreign Media: "Bereaved Families Weep While Receiving Death Certificates"
Authorities Do Not Disclose Cause of Death... "Unusual Approach"
North Korean authorities reportedly demanded a non-disclosure agreement when presenting death certificates to the families of North Korean soldiers who were deployed to Russia and killed in action, according to a report by the U.S. Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 30th.
It is known that North Korean authorities held a ceremony to award death certificates only to about ten bereaved families without informing the residents about the deaths among the North Korean troops deployed to Russia. Most of the deceased were members of the North Korean special forces Storm Corps.
RFA quoted a family member in South Pyongan Province, North Korea, saying, “The families suspected that their children had been deployed to Russia and died, but the authorities made them sign documents pledging not to speak about anything outside, and they returned in tears.”
The family member said, “On December 18, we were notified by the Kaechon City Party Committee to participate in a provincial party event. I went to Pyongsong with my mother and received the death certificate of my younger brother who served in the special forces.” The provincial party official awarded the death certificate to the families, saying, ‘They died participating in sacred combat training, pledging the honor of the motherland.’”
Another source said, “On December 27, the Tanchon City Party Committee held a ceremony to award death certificates to military families, but the authorities did not disclose any details about the cause of death,” adding, “Usually, military units inform families about the cause and place of death, so this approach is unusual.”
Earlier, in October last year, North Korea deployed about 12,000 troops to the Kursk region, a fierce battleground, to support Russia, which is at war with Ukraine. It is reported that they are fighting under harsh conditions.
Sabrina Singh, Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, referred to a White House announcement during an online briefing on December 30 last year, mentioning that over 1,000 people had been killed or wounded in the past 7 to 8 days, and assessed that “the attacks by North Korean troops in the Kursk region are not very effective.”
Mikhailo Makaruk, Operations Sergeant of Ukraine’s 8th Special Operations Regiment, said in an interview with RFA on December 27 last year that when searching for North Korean soldiers killed in Kursk, most of the rifles used by the North Korean soldiers were old Kalashnikov rifles (AK-47), and modern equipment such as radios was rarely found.
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