Recently, the Pentagon responded to reports that North Korean troops stationed in Russia have been watching a lot of pornographic videos online now that they have access to it. These claims came about after a story by Gideon Rachman, a foreign affairs analyst for the Financial Times, who cited a reliable source saying that the North Korean troops were viewing adult material on the internet because they were not used to having unlimited access to it.
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
Pentagon’s Response
Major Charlie Dietz, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense, was skeptical when asked about these reports. “As entertaining as that sounds, I can’t confirm any North Korean internet habits or virtual ‘extracurriculars’ in Russia,” he said. He made it clear that the Pentagon’s attention is still on the more important issues of North Korea’s backing for Ukraine and its participation in Russia’s military activities.
Context and Implications
The claims have caused a stir, bringing to light the possible psychological effects of being online for troops from one of the world’s most isolated countries. Reports say that for the first time, North Korean troops who are helping Russian forces in Ukraine can connect to the internet without any problems. Some troops are said to be watching a lot of online pornography because they are so different from their home media environments, which are very tightly managed.
More General Concerns
The sending of North Korean troops to Russia has already caused a lot of worry among Western partners and security experts in the area. North Korean troops’ role in the conflict has made people worry about what Russia might give up in exchange for making peace with North Korea. The war has been going on for almost three years.
The Pentagon has not confirmed the precise accusations about how North Korean personnel use the internet, but the broader implications of their deployment, as well as the potential psychological ramifications of having limitless access to the internet, remain concerns. As things evolve, the primary priority remains on resolving larger security issues in the region and assisting Ukraine with its protracted conflict.
