＜Inside N. Korea＞ Explaining the Ukraine War to Citizens: "Russia's Patriotic War," "A Favorable Situation for Our Revolution" - Silence on Troop Deployment and Casualties

In early May, North Korean authorities reportedly held lectures on world affairs for citizens, describing the Ukraine war as "a patriotic war by the Russian people to recover their territory." The Kim Jong-un regime secretly deployed North Korean soldiers to Russia around October last year to participate in combat against Ukrainian forces, but only officially acknowledged the deployment in late April. The "current affairs lectures" appear aimed at promoting the significance of the rapidly deepening relationship with Russia. This information was shared by a reporting partner who attended the lecture. (HONG Mari / KANG Ji-won)

◆ The Workers' Party Propaganda Department's "Current Affairs Lecture"

According to a reporting partner in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, the current affairs lecture was held on May 7.

"Perhaps because we've sent troops to Russia, there was a lecture about world affairs for the first time in a while. A cadre from the Ryanggang Province Party Propaganda Department personally addressed gathered members of the Women's Union. The topic was 'Why are friendly cooperative relations with allied countries important?'" the reporting partner said.

※ The women's union's official name is the "Socialist Women's Union of Korea." It consists mainly of housewives who are not affiliated with workplaces.
◆ "Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un Controls World Affairs at Will"

The main points of the lecture, as conveyed by the reporting partner, were as follows:

● The United States has threatened Russia by providing weapons to Ukraine. The Ukraine war is a patriotic war by the Russian people to recover their territory.
● Russia, China, and developing countries are rising up to crush the schemes of imperialists. The person who foresaw the current situation (Kim Jong-un) is at the forefront, controlling world affairs at will.
● A favorable situation for our country's revolution is being created. Therefore, we must form good friendly cooperative relationships with allied countries based on principles of self-reliance and independence.
● Currently, the United States, Japan, and South Korea are exploiting the situation to make money by selling weapons.

However, there was no mention of North Korean troops' participation in the war during the lecture.