A disturbing rumor involving North Korean workers in Russia has sparked widespread panic, leading to authorities scrambling to deny claims that the laborers were eating pet dogs.
The confusion arose from a video filmed at a construction site in Vladivostok, a city in far eastern Russia.
The footage, released by a local official in an attempt to quell the online panic, shows North Korean workers affectionately petting a dog, which was allegedly meant to guard the site.
In the background, a pot of bubbling red liquid adds fuel to the fire of speculation.
Local Official’s Denial and Explanation
In the video, the official addresses viewers’ concerns directly, assuring them that the contents of the pot were not what many feared.
“There’s no blood in it, it’s just spicy kimchi,” the official explains.
“This is not a café or anything – it’s a work camp.” Despite the official’s explanation, the video has only served to escalate the rumor mill, with social media users speculating about a string of missing pets in the area.
In fact, at least one concerned local even stormed the work camp to confront the North Korean workers, demanding to know what they were doing with the animals.
The Disturbing History of Dog Meat in North Korea
The speculation about the pot’s contents ties back to a darker practice associated with North Korean cuisine.
In North Korea, dog meat – known locally as dangogi or “sweet meat” – is considered a delicacy, particularly in the summer months when it is believed to enhance stamina and male virility.
While no evidence has emerged to support the claims of pet consumption at the construction site, the unsettling history surrounding dog meat in North Korea has only added to the growing rumors.
North Korean Workers in Russia: Labor and Political Tensions
The workers seen in the video were identified as North Koreans, based on their unmistakable accents.
Despite international bans, North Korea has long sent workers abroad to countries like Russia, where they are employed in mines, logging camps, construction sites, and more recently, e-commerce warehouses.
In fact, it has been reported that hundreds of North Koreans are now working for Wildberries, Russia’s equivalent of Amazon.
This influx of labor comes as Russia faces a severe shortage of workers, exacerbated by its ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Russian government’s reliance on North Korean workers has grown as millions of Russian citizens have been called into military service or engaged in arms production.
This situation has led to a tense political dynamic, especially since Russia is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and officially signed a resolution in 2017 to ban the employment of North Korean workers.
However, Russia’s apparent disregard for this resolution has fueled international scrutiny.
A Complex Relationship Between Russia and North Korea
The relationship between Russia and North Korea extends beyond labor.
North Korea has reportedly sent up to 12,000 troops to support Russia’s military efforts, particularly around the contested Kursk region in Ukraine.
South Korea’s Institute for Defence Analysis claims that Kim Jong Un’s regime may have earned as much as £15 billion from its military and economic support to Russia.
This financial windfall further strengthens the ties between the two nations, despite North Korea’s isolated status on the global stage.
North Korea’s Crackdown on Western Influence
Meanwhile, back in North Korea, Kim Jong Un’s regime continues to enforce harsh measures to curb what it sees as the spread of Western culture.
In January, the North Korean leader reportedly banned the sale and consumption of hotdogs, deeming them “too Western.”
Selling or cooking hotdogs has now been classified as an act of treason, with severe consequences for anyone caught engaging in such activities.
Vendors in North Korea have confirmed that hotdog sales have been halted, and those caught selling certain foods risk being sent to labor camps.
Kim Jong Un’s recent crackdown extends to other Western-influenced foods, like budae-jjigae, a Korean-American fusion dish made with Spam, beans, kimchi, and sausage.
The regime’s ongoing efforts to suppress “decadent” capitalist culture have led to a further tightening of control over the country’s food markets and cultural expressions.
The Bigger Picture: North Korea’s Struggle for Control
These seemingly bizarre measures are part of North Korea’s broader efforts to maintain control over its population and protect its isolated ideology.
Whether it’s cracking down on Western foods or tightening its grip on labor exports, Kim Jong Un’s regime is determined to shield its citizens from foreign influences while maintaining its grip on power.
As Russia and North Korea continue to forge deeper ties, the world watches closely, uncertain about the long-term implications of this alliance.