North Korea clamps down on soldier death rumors in Russia
The North Korean authorities have threatened to punish citizens who spread "rumors" about the deaths of North Korean soldiers in Russia's war with Ukraine, reports Radio Free Asia. They are also encouraging the reporting of individuals who discuss these losses.
North Korea's state media have not yet reported that their soldiers are fighting in Russia. However, the news is spreading through word of mouth, and reports have emerged that military personnel have died.
According to Radio Free Asia, during a meeting at an automotive company in the northern part of the country, employees were instructed to report anyone "spreading rumors" about North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia.
"As the news spread that soldiers of the 11th Corps continue to die in the war in Russia, it appears that they were trying to stop rumors from spreading," says an RFA source.
It is unclear what might happen to such individuals. If the rumors are deemed to be anti-state propaganda, the penalty could be death.
They die for "the party and the great leader"
At the same time, the government is not keeping the matter completely secret. The families of fallen soldiers are invited to ceremonies commemorating their sacrifice. However, they are only told that their loved ones died "honorably for the party and the great leader," without details of how and where they perished.
Fallen soldiers sometimes receive posthumous membership in the Workers' Party of Korea. This allows their families to access certain privileges, such as better housing, employment opportunities, or education.
The Pentagon and South Korean intelligence estimate that about 12,000 North Korean soldiers are currently located in Russia's Kursk region. At least several hundred have died, and about 3,000 have been injured. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has confirmed this.
