"Once Internet Accessed, Fell into Pornography"...Rumors Spread of North Korean Soldiers Dispatched to Russia

US Authorities "Unable to Confirm"

There are claims that North Korean soldiers deployed to the Ukraine war have been indulging in online pornography after gaining unrestricted access to the internet.

On the 6th (local time), Gideon Rachman, a columnist for the British daily Financial Times (FT), posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account that "a generally reliable source informed me" about the allegations of North Korean soldiers watching pornography during the Ukraine war deployment.

A video released by Ukrainian authorities showing soldiers, presumed to be North Korean troops, lining up to receive Russian supplies. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Rachman is a journalist who has long written signed columns on diplomacy, security, and international affairs for the FT. He wrote, "North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia previously did not have unrestricted internet access," and "after deployment, once they gained internet access, they became deeply engrossed in pornography." However, it is reported that Rachman only posted this brief note on his X account and did not cover the topic in any column or article.

Regarding this claim, the U.S. Department of Defense responded that it could not verify the information, according to the online media outlet Politico. Charlie Dietz, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, drew a line by saying, "No matter how amusing it sounds, we cannot confirm the internet usage habits or off-duty activities of North Korean personnel in Russia."

He added, "We are focusing on the more serious issue of North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s military operations," emphasizing, "Our greatest concern right now is supporting Ukraine and addressing more critical regional security issues."

On the 5th (local time), the Ukrainian government announced its first engagement with North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia, and the U.S. New York Times (NYT), citing a senior U.S. official, reported that "a significant number of North Korean soldiers died in the clashes between Ukrainian and North Korean forces."

Earlier, on the 4th (local time), U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a briefing, "(Secretary of State Tony Blinken) mentioned last week that 8,000 North Korean soldiers had gone to Kursk, but now we estimate that up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Kursk." On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced in a speech that "11,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Kursk, Russia, which is more than initially estimated." The Kursk region is a fiercely contested area in southwestern Russia bordering Ukraine, where since August, Ukrainian forces have entered, occupied parts of the territory, and engaged in battles with Russian troops.