North Korea reported a surge in military recruitment, claiming over 1.4 million young people have volunteered to join or rejoin the army this week, Al Jazeera reports.
The move comes amidst heightened tensions following accusations of South Korean drone incursions and border infrastructure destruction.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the volunteers, including students and youth league officials, expressed their determination to counter what they described as a “serious provocation” by South Korea.
“Millions of young people have turned out in the nationwide struggle to wipe out the ROK scum who committed a serious provocation of violating the sovereignty of the DPRK through a drone infiltration,” KCNA said.
The report coincided with North Korea’s demolition of sections of inter-Korean roads and rail lines on its side of the border, effectively dismantling a key symbol of potential unification. South Korea’s Unification Ministry condemned the act as “highly abnormal” and responded by firing warning shots south of the military demarcation line.
Last week, tensions escalated after North Korea accused Seoul of sending drones over Pyongyang, scattering anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets. While South Korea initially denied involvement, North Korea claims to possess “clear evidence” of official participation.
This latest development follows a pattern of heightened military recruitment in North Korea during periods of heightened tensions with South Korea or the United States. Last year, state media reported 800,000 citizens volunteering to fight against the US. However, the isolated nation’s claims are difficult to verify.
The IISS estimates North Korea possesses 1.28 million active soldiers, 600,000 reservists, and 5.7 million Worker-Peasant Red Guard reservists.
“If a war breaks out, the ROK will be wiped off the map. As it wants a war, we are willing to put an end to its existence,” KCNA warned, releasing photographs of young people signing petitions at an undisclosed location.
