When a North Korean soldier is sent to the front lines to fight for Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine, he receives the following note from his political commissar:

"Death is not the end, but the beginning of Eternal Glory! Remember, warrior, remember: your true fear is not death, but the shame before your country. Being captured means betraying your comrades, your family, and your people. Only those who prefer honor to weakness will become an example for the next generation. Your death on the battlefield will become a symbol of courage and resilience. Shame lasts longer than life, but the glory of heroes is eternal!

Holding the grenade firmly in your hand, courageously remove the safety pin and place the grenade under your chin or beneath your bulletproof vest."

In this photo, we see one of these notes taken from the body of a dead North Korean soldier in Ukraine. According to sources close to the Kremlin, at least 10% of the North Korean force sent to reinforce Putin's invasion was killed or wounded in the first month of combat.