https://www.wsj.com/world/diary-of-a-dead-north-korean-soldier-reveals-grisly-battlefield-tactics-fafbede7 Skip to Main Content Explore Our Brands * WSJ * ----------------------------------------------------------------- * Barron's * ----------------------------------------------------------------- * MarketWatch * ----------------------------------------------------------------- * IBD * ----------------------------------------------------------------- * * ----------------------------------------------------------------- Buy Side from WSJ WSJ Logo Diary of a Dead North Korean Soldier Reveals Grisly Battlefield Tactics Share Resize --------------------------------------------------------------------- Listen (2 min) The Wall Street Journal SectionsMy Account * + Home + Latest + World + Business + U.S. + Politics + Elections + Economy + Tech + Markets & Finance + Opinion + Arts + Lifestyle + Real Estate + Personal Finance + Health + Style + Sports + Print Edition + Video + Audio + Latest Headlines * More + Buy Side from WSJ + The Journal Collection + WSJ Shop + WSJ Wine * Latest * World + Main + Africa + Americas + Asia + China + Europe + Middle East + India + Oceania + Russia + U.K. + Science + Anthropology + Biology + Environment + Physics + Space & Astronomy + World Video + Obituaries * Business + Main + Airlines + Autos + C-Suite + Deals + Earnings + Energy & Oil + Entrepreneurship + Telecom + Retail + Hospitality + Logistics + Media + CFO Journal + CIO Journal + CMO Today + Logistics Report + Risk & Compliance + WSJ Pro Bankruptcy + WSJ Pro Central Banking + WSJ Pro Cybersecurity + WSJ Pro Private Equity + WSJ Pro Sustainable Business + WSJ Pro Venture Capital + Heard on the Street + Journal Reports + Business Video + Business Podcast * U.S. + Main + Climate & Environment + Education + Law + College Rankings 2025 + U.S. Video + What's News Podcast * Politics + Main + Elections + National Security + Policy + Politics Video * Elections * Economy + Main + Central Banking + Consumers + Housing + Jobs + Trade + Global + WSJ Pro Bankruptcy + WSJ Pro Central Banking + WSJ Pro Private Equity + WSJ Pro Venture Capital + Capital Account + Economic Forecasting Survey + Economy Video * Tech + Main + AI + Biotech + Cybersecurity + Personal Technology + Keywords by Christopher Mims + Personal Tech by Joanna Stern + Family & Tech by Julie Jargon + Personal Tech by Nicole Nguyen + CIO Journal + The Future of Everything + Tech Video + Tech Podcast * Markets & Finance + Main + Banking + Commodities & Futures + Currencies + Investing + Regulation + Stocks + Heard on the Street + Capital Account by Greg Ip + The Intelligent Investor by Jason Zweig + Tax Report by Laura Saunders + Streetwise by James Mackintosh + CFO Journal + Markets Video + Your Money Briefing Podcast + Market Data Home + Companies + U.S. Stocks + Commodities + Bonds & Rates + Currencies Market Data + Mutual Funds & ETFs * Opinion + Main + Gerard Baker + Sadanand Dhume + Allysia Finley + James Freeman + William A. 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Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/world/ diary-of-a-dead-north-korean-soldier-reveals-grisly-battlefield-tactics-fafbede7 1. World Diary of a Dead North Korean Soldier Reveals Grisly Battlefield Tactics The troops are exposed, green, loyal--and dying by the thousands in front-line combat against Ukraine Share Resize --------------------------------------------------------------------- Listen (2 min) Ukrainian special forces released footage that they say shows North Korean soldiers being chased by attack drones in Russia's Kursk region. WSJ's Dasl Yoon explains why Kim Jong Un's troops are suffering heavy casualties. Photo: 95th Brigade via Storyful By Dasl Yoon in Seoul and Jane Lytvynenko in Kyiv, Ukraine The crude stick-figure diagram, sketched in blue ink, details how North Korean soldiers deployed to support Russia in the Ukraine war should respond to the approach of a Ukrainian drone. One soldier--referred to as "bait" in the drawing--should stand still to lure the drone so that a pair of comrades can attempt to shoot it down. The grisly tactics were divulged in a diary taken off a slain North Korean soldier on Dec. 21, with passages containing mundane details of life at the front, descriptions of combat tactics and expressions of love for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to excerpts recently made public by Ukraine's special-operations forces. Independent experts say the diary entries appear genuine, with penmanship, word choice and expressions of ideological fervor all common in North Korea. Copyright (c)2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. 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