Daccanomics
North Korea claims that about 800,000 young people have signed up or reenlisted for military service to fight against the United States and other enemies.
North Korea’s state newspaper Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Saturday that most volunteers who signed up for military services are students and workers who have expressed their desire to fight US imperialism.
North Kora made this claim in light of the ongoing military drills between the US and South Korea. North Korea also launched its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday as a response to the joint military drill.
According to a report in the state newspaper, the volunteers are steadfast and have vowed to unite the two Koreas and “totally wipe out” North Korea’s enemies. The report also featured photos of young volunteers waiting in long queues to sign their names at construction sites and other outdoor venues.
According to the NK News report, the young volunteers were said to be responding to provocative acts by the US and South Korea, referred to in the newspaper report as “US imperialists and puppet traitors” bent on destroying North Korea’s “independence and right to live and develop”.
“While the ages of those who reportedly signed up were not announced, all men in North Korea must serve in the military for at least 10 years and women for at least three years due to the country’s conscription system,” NK News reported.
