North Korean soldiers deployed to support Russian operations near Ukraine are engaging with online content they have never accessed before, including reportedly large amounts of adult content, according to a Financial Times chief foreign affairs commentator.
“A usually reliable source tells me that the North Korean soldiers who have deployed to Russia have never had unfettered access to the internet before. As a result, they are gorging on pornography,” wrote commentator Gideon Rachman in a post on X.
A usually reliable source tells me that the North Korean soldiers who have deployed to Russia have never had unfettered access to the internet before. As a result, they are gorging on pornography.
— Gideon Rachman (@gideonrachman) November 5, 2024
North Korea’s internet access has historically been among the most restrictive globally. A 2016 investigation by security engineer Matt Bryant revealed that North Koreans could only access a limited set of 28 state-approved websites, focusing primarily on government-controlled news and propaganda. By contrast, the soldiers in Russia now have unprecedented access to a broad swath of online content, including potentially independent news sources and entertainment.
According to U.S. officials approximately 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean soldiers are now deployed in the Kursk region to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. Although North Korea has been a longtime ally of Russia, this marks the first major deployment of North Korean forces outside Asia in decades.
When asked for confirmation, Pentagon spokesperson Army Lt. Col. Charlie Dietz told Task & Purpose that the U.S. Department of Defense could not verify reports of North Korean troops’ internet activities in Russia. “As entertaining as that sounds, I can’t confirm any North Korean internet habits or virtual ‘extracurriculars’ in Russia,” Dietz stated, noting that the Pentagon remains focused on understanding North Korea’s broader involvement in Russian military operations.
Further details regarding North Korean internet usage in Russia remain unconfirmed, as officials have not disclosed specific mechanisms by which the soldiers would access content typically restricted in their home country.
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