Hardened soldiers, indeed.
North Korean military personnel, who joined the war front in Ukraine on behalf of Russia, have unrestricted access to the Internet for the first time, and may be using it to watch a lot of pornography, according to a report that a Pentagon official could not confirm.
Warriors from the reclusive kingdom engaged in battle in Ukraine for the first time on Monday — but they allegedly began battling various demons before they even set foot in an arena, according to a report.
A soldier looks at his old cell phone in North Korea, where the government suppresses freedom of expression and restricts access to the Internet. AFP via Getty Images
These soldiers have been engaged in the battle of the bulge since they received free use of the Internet, according to a Financial Times reporter.
“A normally reliable source told me that North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia have never had unfettered access to the Internet before. They are consuming pornography,” Financial Times foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman wrote in a post on X. . As a result, they devour pornography.”
Kim Jong Un (center) stands with soldiers who participated in military exercises in 2024. AP
Rachman did not provide further context on how his source learned about the internet habits of 10,000 North Korean soldiers sent by Kim Jong Un to support Putin’s war effort.
“Although this sounds amusing, I cannot confirm any North Korean internet habits or virtual extracurricular activities in Russia,” Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Charlie Dietz told the outlet Mission & Purpose.
“We are focusing on the most serious aspects of North Korean involvement, if any, in Russian military operations. As for internet access, that question would be better directed to Moscow. For now, our attention remains focused on supporting Ukraine and addressing the most important regional security concerns.”
Mushroom-headed North Korean soldiers conduct a military march during a Korean People’s Army parade in 2018. AFP via Getty Images
This military publication notes that the second- and third-order effects of exposing psychologically and culturally protected North Korean forces to the world of online pornography are not yet known.
The Kremlin did not respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
