"Look at This Huge Beef and Ramen"... North Korean Soldiers Dispatched to Russia, It Turns Out

"North Korean Soldiers Eating Beef and Ramen" Claim
Ukrainian Media Points Out "Chinese-Origin Soldiers"
"Fake Information Harms Ukraine" Warning

A man introduced as a North Korean soldier who arrived in Ukraine is eating ramen. [Source=X (formerly Twitter)]

As North Korea has deployed its troops to Russia, which is at war with Ukraine, a flood of unverified information and fake news is emerging.

On the 4th (local time), according to the Ukrainian daily Kyiv Post, a user named 'Intelligence FRONT' on X (formerly Twitter) posted two videos on his account the previous day, one lasting 1 minute and the other 2 minutes 3 seconds. Along with the videos, he wrote, "A North Korean soldier who arrived in Ukraine to fight for Russia is surprised by the variety and abundance of food provided. He says, 'I'm eating on the battlefield. Look at this meat. Big beef and instant ramen.'" The poster also claimed to be an 'independent observer' who obtains information from open-source intelligence (OSINT).

However, the media pointed out that the person in the video appears to be a Chinese soldier unrelated to North Korea. It added, "Our own fact-checking revealed that the man is speaking Chinese, not Korean," and "He is Chinese and was simply explaining what he was eating." Considering the Russian conversations heard in the background, it is possible that the man is located inside or near the Ukrainian front lines, but he does not appear to be a North Korean soldier deployed to Russia. The exact time and place where the video was filmed remain unclear.

The media also emphasized, "The fact that North Koreans cannot use smartphones or access social networking services (SNS) makes it extremely unlikely that the man is a North Korean soldier fluent in Chinese." It added, "Although the original source of the video has not yet been confirmed, it appears to have first been shared on Chinese SNS," and "Some Chinese mercenaries affiliated with the Russian army often post videos about their experiences."

Earlier, a pro-Ukraine Telegram channel 'Exilenova+' posted a video titled 'Interview with a North Korean soldier who survived alone after losing all his comrades.' The video became a major topic online immediately after its release, but its authenticity has not been verified for several days. Last month, a Chinese-born Russian mercenary claimed that "eight North Korean officers were all killed on the first day of deployment to the Ukrainian front," but no evidence has been presented to support this.

In response, the international civic group 'InformNapalm' warned, "The flood of fake information related to deployed North Korean soldiers could harm Ukraine." On the 3rd, through their Telegram channel, they stated, "About 15 people sent photos yesterday and today showing bodies dressed in Russian military uniforms claimed to be North Korean soldiers along with their military IDs," and criticized, "Such exaggerated propaganda is not only unhelpful but also obstructive." The group was formed shortly after Russia's forced annexation of Crimea in 2014 and has been monitoring Russian military activities since then.