North Korean Soldiers Becoming Addicted to Pornography After Arriving in Russia

New reports suggest that North Korean soldiers sent to Russia to support Vladimir Putin's war efforts are becoming increasingly addicted to pornography, a sharp contrast to the strict internet controls they experienced in their home country.

North Korean Soldiers Reportedly Becoming Addicted to Pornography After Arriving in Russia to Fight for Putin

Under Kim Jong-un’s regime, North Korea heavily restricts access to the internet, especially adult content, limiting citizens to a small selection of state-sanctioned websites.

One analyst noted that the soldiers are "gorging" on adult material after being introduced to a much less censored digital environment in Russia. While Russia also enforces internet censorship, including blocking major adult sites such as Pornhub and YouPorn, some uncensored platforms remain accessible, allowing North Korean troops to explore content that was previously unavailable to them.

New Unfettered Access To The Internet

This sudden exposure to uncensored content is a shocking change for the soldiers, who are now navigating a vastly different internet landscape. Financial Times journalist Gideon Rachman shared on Twitter, "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."

North Korea’s tight control over the internet is well-known. A 2016 investigation revealed that only 28 websites were available to the general public, with most of them promoting state propaganda. Since then, internet freedom in the country has remained largely unchanged, making it nearly impossible for citizens to access adult content.

Although Russia has implemented similar censorship policies, there are still ways around the blocks. While adult sites have been banned, some loopholes persist, giving users the ability to bypass these restrictions if they know how.

Why North Korean Troops Are in Russia

The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia comes as part of a deal between the two countries, with more than 10,000 soldiers sent to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The agreement was confirmed during a meeting between North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

"From the very beginning of the special military operation, respected comrade Chairman of State Affairs Kim Jong-un gave the order that we, without looking over our shoulder at anyone, should invariably and powerfully support and provide assistance to the Russian army and the Russian people in their holy war," a Pyongyang envoy said.

This growing alliance between Kim and Putin signals deeper cooperation between the two nations, both of which are facing increasing isolation on the world stage. However, the unintended consequence of exposing North Korean soldiers to unrestricted internet use in Russia may be causing unforeseen problems as they adapt to this new digital reality.