A startling report from Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman reveals that North Korean soldiers, deployed to Russia, have been watching adult content in their barracks after gaining unrestricted internet access for the first time.

This is notable as most North Koreans have limited access to a heavily censored, domestic version of the web known as Kwangmyong, which restricts access to foreign websites and is filled with state propaganda.

Up to 10,000 North Korean troops are believed to be nearing the Ukraine conflict, with some already stationed near the Kursk border region, according to US intelligence.

While high-ranking officials in North Korea have access to the full internet, ordinary citizens only use Kwangmyong, which doesn’t allow access to outside media or news.

In response to the report, the Pentagon stated it couldn’t verify claims of North Korean troops consuming adult content in Russia.

A spokesperson for the US Department of Defense, Major Charlie Dietz, said, “We cannot confirm any details about North Korean internet usage or their online activities in Russia,” emphasizing that the Pentagon’s focus remains on more pressing security concerns related to the North Korean military’s engagement with Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed clashes between Ukrainian forces and North Korean troops near the Russian border, marking the first direct engagement between Ukrainian and North Korean soldiers.

The involvement of North Korean troops in the Kursk region was also confirmed by US officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the lack of a stronger Western response, stating that North Korea’s involvement marks the beginning of a new chapter of global instability.