Thousands of soldiers from North Korea have deployed to Russia to aid Vladimir Putins army in its fight against Ukraine.
But before Kim Jong Uns troops head to the frontlines to face Kyivs forces, it seems they must first confront another foe - one which those of us in the developed world are all too familiar with.
The trappings of the Internet.
A shocking report by Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman revealed Kim Jong Uns troops were gorging on pornography in their barracks, having never enjoyed such unrestricted access to the web, according to a usually reliable source.
Just as the advent of Elon Musks Starlink satellites transformed the lives of tribes deep in the Amazon rainforest almost overnight - many argue for the worse - the military men from Pyongyang were reportedly hooked immediately.
US Department of Defense spokesperson Major Charlie Dietz said he was unable to verify any North Korean internet habits or virtual extracurriculars in Russia.
As for internet access, thats a question best directed to Moscow, Dietz said.
Right now, our attention remains on supporting Ukraine and addressing the more significant regional security concerns, he concluded, demonstrating a high level of professionalism as well as a noticeable lack of humour.
Clips purporting to show Pyongyangs soldiers at training camps in Russia have been widely circulated online
Footage purportedly shows North Korean troops in eastern Russia undergoing training ahead of deployment with Vladimir Putins forces in Ukraine
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises artillery firing drills in North Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024
Though full Internet access is available for high-level officials and military figures in North Korea, the majority of citizens are only granted access to Kwangmyong or the bright star network.
This is the pariah states only sanctioned web service and is a heavily firewalled and restricted version of the Internet which does not permit access to any foreign websites, media or news services and is instead replete with state propaganda.
Russias state-run media and comms regulator Roskomnadzor also maintains an Internet traffic regulation system known as TSPU, which was formalised in 2019 and requires Russian internet service providers to ensure government-supplied equipment is installed in their networks.
But virtual private networks (VPNs) - tools that allow Internet users to encrypt their data and mask their IP addresses to access sites abroad - are not yet banned and are widely used to circumvent the censors.
It was revealed earlier this year that Russia plans to invest nearly 60 billion roubles ($660 million) over the next five years to widen TSPUs remit and grant it additional capabilities as the Kremlin seeks to further shape the narrative around the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials declared earlier this week that Kyivs forces had clashed with North Korean troops for the first time as Kim Jong Uns soldiers fought alongside their Russian counterparts to repel Ukraines incursion into the Kursk region.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of ignoring the threat of 11,000 North Korean troops starting to engage his forces in the war zone
Russian soldier captured in Kursk tells Ukrainian captors of his experiences working with North Korean troops
The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK)s National flag waves on the embassy building in Moscow, Russia, 30 October 2024
In an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS, Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umerov reported his troops had engaged a small group of North Korean soldiers just across the Russian border.
His claims were backed up by US officials who confirmed to Reuters that North Korean troops were actively involved in combat in Russias Kursk region on November 4.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the lack of Western response to North Koreas involvement, remarking that these first battles with North Korea open a new chapter of instability in the world.
The alarm was first raised by Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence services who reported that a contingent of up to 11,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia and had undergone training.
Images of the troops engaged on the battlefield are yet to emerge, but clips purporting to show Pyongyangs soldiers at training camps in Russia have been widely circulated online.
Russian soldiers taken prisoner on the frontlines of Ukraine have also been recorded telling their captors of difficulties they had experienced communicating with the North Koreans, adding that some units had suffered friendly fire.