Despite concerns from Russian parents, Grigory Gurov, the head of Putin's Movement of the First Youth organisation, has defended the decision, stating, "Conditions there are good."
As reported by the Daily Mail, the children are set to visit the Songdowon camp, located on the eastern shore of North Korea. The camp, which has been likened to a blend of a Disney-themed water park and a boarding house with early wake-up calls, was built by Kim Jong Un's grandfather in 1960. The children's daily routine will reportedly include cleaning statues of North Korea's previous dictators, Kim Jong Un's father and grandfather, from as early as 6.30am.
Artem Samsonov, a former Communist party official who visited the camp in 2015, wrote about his experience, "We received special attention and were given not brooms, but special pads and were allowed to wipe the statue itself." Samsonov, who was later imprisoned for child abuse in 2022, also revealed that the children's schedule includes enforced exercise, other cleaning tasks, and state-approved lessons. Despite the opportunity to attend a disco, the children's diet will likely consist of soup, rice, and potatoes, according to Samsonov.
WATCH: MAJOR DONORS ASKING FOR BIDEN TO STEP ASIDE
This move to send Russian children to North Korea for a summer camp is seen as a further indication of the strengthening relationship between Putin and Kim Jong Un, following Putin's visit to North Korea last month. This relationship has been further solidified by North Korea's pledge to send military personnel to Ukraine to support Putin's forces. As reported by South Korea's TV Chosun, Pyongyang will send construction and engineering forces to occupied territories of Ukraine as early as July to assist in rebuilding work.
WATCH RACHEL MADDOW SUPREME COURT’S ‘DEATH SQUAD RULING’
July 02, 2024
This unprecedented show of foreign support follows Putin's official state visit to North Korea, which resulted in the signing of a defence pact on June 19. The treaty obligates its signatories to provide "military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay" should either find itself "put in a state of war by an armed invasion."
SENATOR WARREN SLAMS SUPREME COURT’S 'EXTREMIST MAJORITY' – WHAT'S HER NEXT MOVE?
The Movement of the First Youth organisation, created by Putin in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, aims to align children closely with the Kremlin's ideology. Members of the organisation, identifiable by their red berets and matching neck scarves, are often seen carrying flags during state functions. However, the decision to send these children to North Korea has been met with concern by many parents, with one joking on social media that their child's only escape would be to "walk through the jungle to South Korea."
CREEPY AI PRACTICES: CHILDREN'S PHOTOS FOUND IN MAJOR DATASETS CAUSING DEEP CONCERNS
Despite these concerns, one parent who had stayed at the camp in 2017 attempted to reassure others, comparing the camp to Artek, a Russian youth camp in occupied Crimea, and stating that it was "good" and offered pools and water parks. However, she noted that it came with a different culture and was completely without internet access. As the world watches, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the children involved and the wider geopolitical landscape.
