Thousands of North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia to help Vladimir Putin’s army in its fight against Ukraine.
But before Kim Jong Un’s troops head to the front lines to confront kyiv’s forces, it appears they must first face another enemy, one that those of us in the developed world are all too familiar with.
The traps of the Internet.
A shocking report by Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman revealed that Kim Jong Un’s troops were “gorging themselves on pornography” in their barracks, and had never enjoyed such unlimited access to the web, according to a “generally reliable source.” “.
Just as the arrival of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites transformed the lives of tribes deep in the Amazon rainforest almost overnight (many argue for the worse), Pyongyang’s military was immediately hooked.
Maj. Charlie Dietz, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense, said he was unable to verify “any North Korean Internet habits or virtual extracurricular activities in Russia.”
“As for Internet access, it’s best to direct that question to Moscow,” Dietz said.
“At this time, our focus remains on supporting Ukraine and addressing the most important regional security concerns,” he concluded, demonstrating a high level of professionalism as well as a notable lack of humor.
Clips purporting to show Pyongyang soldiers in training camps in Russia have been widely circulated on the Internet.
The images allegedly show North Korean troops in eastern Russia training ahead of deployment with Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises artillery firing exercises in North Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during a signing ceremony for the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, June 19, 2024.
Although high-level officials and military figures in North Korea have full access to the Internet, most citizens only have access to Kwangmyong or the “bright star” network.
This is the only pariah state-sanctioned web service and is a heavily protected and restricted version of the Internet that does not allow access to any foreign websites, media or news services and is instead filled with state propaganda.
Russia’s state media and communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, also maintains an Internet traffic regulation system known as TSPU, which was formalized in 2019 and requires Russian Internet service providers to ensure that government-provided equipment is installed in their networks.
But virtual private networks (VPNs), tools that allow Internet users to encrypt their data and mask their IP addresses to access overseas sites, are not yet banned and are widely used to bypass censors.
It was revealed earlier this year that Russia plans to invest nearly 60 billion rubles ($660 million) over the next five years to expand the TSPU’s mandate and give it additional capabilities as the Kremlin seeks to further shape the narrative in around the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials stated earlier this week that kyiv forces had clashed with North Korean troops for the first time as Kim Jong Un’s soldiers fought alongside their Russian counterparts to repel Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region. .
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of ignoring the threat that 11,000 North Korean soldiers will begin confronting his forces in the war zone.
Russian soldier captured in Kursk tells his Ukrainian captors about his experiences working with North Korean troops
The national flag of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) flies at the embassy building in Moscow, Russia, on October 30, 2024.
In an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported that his troops had clashed with a “small group” of North Korean soldiers just across the Russian border.
His claims were backed by US officials who confirmed to Reuters that North Korean troops were actively involved in fighting in Russia’s Kursk region on November 4.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the lack of Western response to North Korea’s involvement, noting that these “first battles with North Korea open a new chapter of instability in the world.”
The alarm was first raised by the Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence services, which reported that a contingent of up to 11,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia and had received training.
No images have yet emerged of troops fighting on the battlefield, but clips purporting to show Pyongyang’s soldiers in training camps in Russia have widely circulated online.
Russian soldiers taken prisoner in Kursk have also been recorded telling their captors about the difficulties they had experienced in communicating with the North Koreans, adding that some units had suffered friendly fire.
In one video, an emaciated-looking prisoner of war says his unit was in a forest with ten North Korean soldiers after being sent to dig trenches when they became caught in crossfire.
“During the assault, the Koreans started shooting at us,” he explained.
“We tried to explain to them where to aim, but I think they shot two of our people.”
“I decided it was better to surrender in this situation than to die by our own bullet,” the soldier said.
Kim Jong Un has reportedly sent thousands of troops to support Russia in its war with Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin greets North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in the Kremlin
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui promised last week during a visit to Moscow that the so-called Hermit Kingdom would support Russia until its victory in Ukraine.
US intelligence said last week that some North Korean troops had already headed to the Kursk border region, and Washington and Seoul warned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to withdraw his army.
“We will always firmly support our Russian comrades until the day of victory,” Choe declared in Moscow after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
He said North Korea had no doubts about the “wise leadership” of President Vladimir Putin, who signed a mutual assistance pact with Pyongyang this summer and greatly strengthened ties with the isolated state.
Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have denied reports that North Korean soldiers were fighting the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
However, Lavrov praised the “very close ties” between the “armies and special services” of the two countries.
“This will also allow us to resolve important security objectives for our citizens and theirs,” he added, without giving further details.
Lavrov said Russia was “deeply grateful” for North Korea’s “principled stance” on Ukraine.