The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that this week alone, some 1.4 million young North Korean citizens applied to join or return to the military. According to the North Korean news agency, they want to join a "holy war to destroy the enemy through the hands of revolution."
KCNA also distributed footage of young people allegedly signing applications to join the army. On October 13, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong threatened Seoul with “terrible tragic consequences” in the event of another South Korean UAV landing on the country’s territory. South Korea denied the launch of the UAV and threatened North Korea with the “end of the regime.” On October 15, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a meeting on defense issues to discuss the violation of the country's sovereignty. And later, North Korean military forces blew up sections of roads connecting the country with the south of the Korean Peninsula. “If war breaks out, the Republic of Korea will be erased from the maps. If they want war, we will gladly put an end to their existence,” the KCNA statement said.
As Reuters notes, this is not the first such message in the DPRK amid escalation of the situation. Last year, the country's state media reported that 800,000 of the country's citizens had voluntarily joined the armed forces to fight against the United States. It was also reported in 2017 that nearly 3.5 million workers, party members and soldiers volunteered to serve. There is no independent confirmation of all these reports.
KCNA also distributed footage of young people allegedly signing applications to join the army. On October 13, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong threatened Seoul with “terrible tragic consequences” in the event of another South Korean UAV landing on the country’s territory. South Korea denied the launch of the UAV and threatened North Korea with the “end of the regime.” On October 15, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a meeting on defense issues to discuss the violation of the country's sovereignty. And later, North Korean military forces blew up sections of roads connecting the country with the south of the Korean Peninsula. “If war breaks out, the Republic of Korea will be erased from the maps. If they want war, we will gladly put an end to their existence,” the KCNA statement said.
As Reuters notes, this is not the first such message in the DPRK amid escalation of the situation. Last year, the country's state media reported that 800,000 of the country's citizens had voluntarily joined the armed forces to fight against the United States. It was also reported in 2017 that nearly 3.5 million workers, party members and soldiers volunteered to serve. There is no independent confirmation of all these reports.
