North Korea quashes rumours of soldiers' deaths in Russia
The North Korean authorities have threatened to punish citizens who spread "rumours" about the death of North Korean soldiers in Russia's war with Ukraine, reports Radio Free Asia. They are also encouraging the reporting of individuals who discuss the losses.
North Korean state media have not yet reported that their soldiers are fighting in Russia. Nonetheless, the news is spreading by word of mouth, and there are reports suggesting that military personnel have been killed.
According to Radio Free Asia, during a meeting of staff at an automotive company in the northern part of the country, employees were instructed to report anyone spreading "rumours" 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 rumours from spreading - says an RFA source.
It is unclear what might happen to such individuals. If it is deemed to be anti-state propaganda, the punishment could be death.
They are dying for "the party and the great leader"
Simultaneously, the government is not keeping the issue entirely secret. The families of fallen military personnel are invited to ceremonies commemorating their sacrifice. However, they are not told how and where they specifically died, only that they died "honourably for the party and the great leader."
Fallen soldiers sometimes receive posthumous membership in the Workers' Party of Korea. This allows their families to enjoy certain privileges, such as access to better housing, jobs, or education.
The Pentagon and South Korean intelligence estimate that there are about 12,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk Oblast. At least several hundred have died, and approximately 3,000 have been injured. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has confirmed this.
