Ghost of Pyongyang

The "Ghost of Pyongyang" is a satirical term and internet meme that emerged in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, particularly regarding dubious claims about North Korean military involvement in Ukraine. The term plays off the mythos of the "Ghost of Kyiv," a celebrated but unverified fighter pilot story from the early stages of the war, blending humor and skepticism to challenge allegations about North Korea's participation in the conflict.

Origin

First Mentions

The earliest known usage of the term "Ghost of Pyongyang" can be traced back to online forums such as Reddit and 4chan in April 2023. Users introduced the phrase in discussions about unverified reports of North Korean troops or mercenaries being deployed to Ukraine to support Russian forces. One notable post on Reddit included sarcastic commentary about the possibility of North Korean soldiers, likening their hypothetical exploits to the legendary "Ghost of Kyiv." Similarly, an archived 4chan thread featured a meme video titled Ghost of Pyongyang.webm, further popularizing the term.

Kursk incursion

The usage of the term gained momentum in the latter half of 2024, primarily on Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube. During the incursion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine into the Russian territory of Kursk, claims of North Korean troops being sent to support the Russian army began to appear widely in mainstream media outlets. Some skeptics, mostly in the comment sections of news outlets, discussion forums, and YouTube videos, pointed out that no evidence was provided for these claims and that such allegations often came from countries known to be allies of Ukraine, such as the UK and the USA.

Photographs of Asian-looking Russian soldiers, claimed to be from the DPRK, began circulating online. Critics noted that almost 10 million people of Asian ethnicity live within the Russian Federation, meaning that an Asian-looking Russian soldier can't be used as evidence of North Korean involvement.

As of December 31, 2024, no conclusive evidence has been presented regarding the deployment of North Korean soldiers to Ukraine.

Spread

Social Media

The term quickly gained traction in some circles in platforms like Twitter, where users used it to mock or parody news articles suggesting North Korean involvement. For instance, a tweet from April 22, 2023, humorously implied that the "Ghost of Pyongyang" was conducting covert operations in Ukraine. Although mostly used by pro-Russian observers, there has been neutral or pro-Ukraine analists who aknowledge the term, such as Willy OAM in youtube (https://youtu.be/w0VmLIz2maU?t=164).