Kim Jong Un Lashes Out at “Embarrassing” Snipers Who Fought for Russia, Demands Improvement

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has reportedly admonished some of his country’s snipers fighting alongside Russian forces in the war in Ukraine — saying they had “embarrassed themselves” and instructing the military to improve marksman standards and discipline among overseas units. (X (formerly Twitter))

Kim’s sharp public rebuke comes amid increased scrutiny of Pyongyang’s clandestine military support for Moscow, including the deployment of North Korean special-forces troops and snipers to Russia following the 2024 security treaty between the two countries. (Wikipedia)

What Kim Said — And Why It Matters

According to state-linked reports, during recent special forces drills, Kim Jong Un reviewed sniper and special-operations units and ordered that new sniper rifles be supplied to them. The orders followed reports of battlefield failures among snipers who had been fighting under Russian command. (NK News – North Korea News)

Kim reportedly described snipers as “hunters” who must deliver “100% accurate sniping skills on the battlefield.” The implicit message: those who previously failed to meet those standards had brought shame on their units and by extension on the regime. (NK News – North Korea News)

This marks a rare public admission from Pyongyang of problems within its foreign-deployed troops — and suggests internal concern over competence and reputation, not just in Ukraine but at home.

Background — North Korea, Russia and the Ukraine War

In 2024, the two countries signed a comprehensive defence and strategic-partnership treaty, leading to closer military cooperation. Under that agreement, North Korea is widely believed to have sent thousands of troops, including special-forces and sniper detachments, to support Russia’s war effort. (Wikipedia)

Until recently, the North Korean regime publicly celebrated the actions of its soldiers abroad. In August 2025, Kim praised what state media described as “heroic” service of North Korean troops fighting in Russia. (Reuters)

That changed with the latest drill-inspection, where Kim appears to signal dissatisfaction — suggesting that battlefield failures are now unacceptable even among units whose involvement abroad had previously been lauded.

What This Could Indicate — Declining Morale, Pressure on Pyongyang, and Reassessment

Kim’s criticism likely reflects several pressures:

• Combat losses and poor performance: Reports from Ukraine and Western intelligence suggest heavy casualties among foreign mercenary and allied units fighting in Russia, which may include North Korean troops. (New York Post)
• Domestic reputation concerns: By publicly condemning failures, Kim might be aiming to preserve the prestige of North Korea’s military and assert stricter discipline ahead of future engagements or internal consolidation.
• Preparation for intensified military commitment: The order to supply new sniper rifles and tighten training could signal that Pyongyang intends to deepen — not abandon — its military cooperation with Russia, despite recent setbacks, perhaps hoping to restore effective strength.

It also suggests that North Korea is reading negative public or internal reaction to what may have been seen as poor performance by its troops abroad — and wants to address that before it escalates.

Wider Implications — What This Means for the Russia-Ukraine War and International Security

If North Korea clamps down on its deployed troops, it may attempt to bolster effectiveness in future contributions to Russia. That could mean more coordinated or capable foreign-deployed units, potentially complicating the balance of forces in Ukraine.

At the same time, the public admission of mistakes could undercut Pyongyang’s propaganda narrative of infallibility, revealing fissures in the facade. For international observers, it may offer an opportunity to study the reliability and cohesion of foreign-deployed forces — including North Korea’s — in Moscow’s war effort.

Finally, this development underscores a deeper risk: as Russia increasingly depends on foreign and allied troops, failures among those units could reverberate — politically, militarily, and diplomatically — destabilising alliances and widening the war’s impact beyond Ukraine.

What We Still Don’t Know — Unconfirmed Reports, Propaganda, and the Fog of War

It is important to note that while journalistic and intelligence reporting suggests involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s war, independent, verifiable evidence remains limited. Some analysts caution that attribution of battlefield failures is difficult, and that both Russia and North Korea maintain opacity regarding troop deployments and casualties. (Responsible Statecraft)

Whether Kim’s criticism reflects genuine performance issues — or serves as a propaganda or internal-control measure — remains unclear. The statements may aim as much at controlling regime narrative at home as at improving military capacity abroad.

Conclusion — A Rare Crack in the Armour: Pyongyang’s Discontent With Its Overseas Forces

Kim Jong Un’s public admission that North Korean snipers “embarrassed themselves” fighting for Russia marks a significant break from previous rhetoric glorifying those troops. It suggests rising concern in Pyongyang over performance, reputation, and the sustainability of its involvement in Moscow’s war.

As North Korea continues to walk a fine line — balancing support for Russia, internal propaganda demands, and growing international pressure — this moment may mark the beginning of a recalibration. Whether it leads to retrenchment, reorganisation — or escalation — remains to be seen.

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