State-led lectures in North Korea praise Russian military operations
North Korean authorities have initiated political lectures for officials to promote the country's deployment of troops to the Russia-Ukraine war. According to a Daily NK source in Kangwon province, the Workers' Party's propaganda and agitation department distributed special lecture materials on May 21. It led to a lecture held by the provincial party committee.
The materials highlighted the participation of Korean People's Army combat units in operations to "liberate" Russia's Kursk region, portraying North Korean soldiers as instrumental in defeating Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces and protecting Russian territory. "Our soldiers’ fighting spirit and tactical skills struck fear into the enemy," stated the distributed material.
The lectures emphasised North Korea's leadership in a global alliance of anti-imperialist forces, aiming to instil pride in officials about the country's military strength and international role. North Korea was also described in the materials as "one of the great powers leading the world’s political situation."
"The lecturer kept using the phrase, 'North Korea is a leading nation in the global anti-imperialist front.' This was clearly meant to drill into officials that our military has the combat power not only to protect our homeland but to lead the global strategic balance," stated a Daily NK source.
This lecture was not part of the year's original plan, suggesting a deliberate effort to justify the troop deployment internally and promote the regime's narrative. Officials reportedly expressed curiosity about the operation, asking questions about the location of Kursk and the logistics of their soldiers' involvement.
The source also added that "except for special orders related to national holidays or party policy, separate materials for political lectures for officials that differ from the plan are almost never issued, so people think this latest lecture is unusual."
Source: Daily NK
