Russia has reportedly deployed over 7,000 North Korean soldiers to the front lines near Ukraine, signaling a deepening alliance with Pyongyang amid its ongoing conflict with Kyiv.
Newfound Access to Internet
These soldiers, sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to assist Russian forces, have reportedly encountered a new experience: unrestricted internet access.
According to Financial Times foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman, this newfound access has led many of these soldiers to dive into the online world — particularly adult content, which is generally forbidden in North Korea.
Rachman shared this information on X (formerly Twitter), noting that his details came from a “usually reliable source,” though he didn’t explain how the soldiers' internet activity was observed, according to L'Independent.
The troops’ internet habits underscore the vast differences between Russian and North Korean media restrictions. In North Korea, internet access is typically limited to state-approved content, cutting citizens off from most foreign media.
Russia, by contrast, has fewer restrictions online, though government censorship has increased since the invasion of Ukraine.
Fewer Restrictions in Russia
Russia, by contrast, has fewer restrictions online, though government censorship has increased since the invasion of Ukraine. This unusual situation caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Defense.
When asked about it, Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Dietz, a Pentagon spokesperson, told Task & Purpose that the department couldn’t confirm any particular “internet habits or virtual extracurricular activities” of North Korean troops in Ukraine.
The presence of North Korean soldiers on the Russia-Ukraine front highlights Russia’s search for additional manpower.
As the war drags into its second year, Russian forces have increasingly turned to foreign allies and unconventional sources of support.
North Korea, already an international outlier due to its authoritarian regime and nuclear ambitions, has taken a stronger stance alongside Russia, potentially motivated by its own strategic interests.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the North Korean troops received training at several sites across Russia’s Far East before being deployed near Ukraine.
Reports indicate that shortly after arrival, they engaged with Ukrainian forces and may now be stationed in Russia's Kursk region, which sits just north of the Ukraine border.
