North Korea claims that about 800,000 of its citizens volunteered to join or reenlist in the nation's military to fight against the United States, North Korea's state newspaper reported on Saturday.
About 800,000 students and workers, on Friday alone, across the country expressed a desire to enlist or reenlist in the military to counter the United States, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported.
"The soaring enthusiasm of young people to join the army is a demonstration of the unshakeable will of the younger generation to mercilessly wipe out the war maniacs making last-ditch efforts to eliminate our precious socialist country, and achieve the great cause of national reunification without fail and a clear manifestation of their ardent patriotism," the North's Rodong Sinmun said.
The North's claim came after North Korea on Thursday launched its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in response to ongoing U.S-South Korea military drills.
North Korea fired the ICBM into the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan on Thursday, hours before South Korea's president flew to Tokyo for a summit that discussed ways to counter the nuclear-armed North.
The North's ballistic missiles are banned under United Nations Security Council resolutions and the launch drew condemnation from governments in Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.
South Korean and American forces began 11 days of joint drills, dubbed "Freedom Shield 23", on Monday, held on a scale not seen since 2017 to counter the North's growing threats.
Kim accused the United States and South Korea of increasing tensions with the military drills.
© Thomson Reuters 2023.
23 Comments
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Mark
Nice Rifles !! do they work??
Let's see based on what we are watchin unfold in Ukraine the death ratio is 7 to 1 Russians to Ukrainians. Modern weapons are saving the lives of their users, 800,000 won't be enough and may last about 24 month.
plasticmonkey
People live in poverty and the clearest way out is to join the military. This may not just be a bug of the NK system, but a primary feature.
Very sad people.
Peter14
So North Korea is telegraphing its future intent on attacking America. A concerning development to say the least. Perhaps this would justify a US first strike with nuclear weapons. At the least it enables the US to keep conducting military exercises with South Korea, and perhaps stationing US nukes in the southern tip of South Korea.
For anyone reticent to critisize NK, this announcement of their intentions to fight America shows for all to see their aggression and warmongering at its worst.
More sanctions on NK are clearly needed, and on anyone else that trades with them.
mammamia
Desperation at its fullest!
Sven Asai
Only 800,000? That’s in fact a ‘disastrous’ result for Kim&Co., such a low percentage. Usually one can observe a 100% or very nearby quote in such completely brainwashed dictatorships like NK or under former iron curtain etc. Like those infamous 100 or 99.995% election results, one would at least expect 99.995% of all males in a certain age range would be signing up also here, in this specific case.
wallace
What will they use for weapons? Pitch forks?
Juanito3001
Sorry to make light of this but perhaps those 800,000 might practice warfare on each other with pea shooters.
Absolutely insane rhetoric. Who would ever in their right mind want to invade NK? Crazy Kim kids with their own nuclear weapons. Never a better reason today for Nihon and South Korea to put aside the old grudges.
Yrral
Peter14,stop worrying about America,the odd of NK attacking America,is slim to none,in the US mainland,stop using American might to ease your insecurities
Blacklabel
shovels.
Peter14
Sorry Larry, but I'm too old for insecurities. Perhaps you should work on dealing with your own first?
The odds of a maniac like Kim attacking America, wow I would not like to bet money against it. It would first attack SK and then the US after it intervenes. Kim is just stupid enough to do it.
wanderlust
Do they all plan to swim across the Pacific to the USA?
Japan's North-west shore has many wrecks of North Korean ships, generally unseaworthy, and unable to cross the ocean.
tooheysnew
they either shoot water or pellets
they thought they were going to eat US pizza & hot dogs
CaptDingleheimer
Lambs to the slaughter if it ever went down. Good luck with that.
Awa no Gaijin
My first thought is they just joined because their hungry and not for patriotism.
Then again perhaps also brainwashed
finally rich
Even if this fairytale was true, no brainwashing is more powerful than hunger.
Drop a few Big Macs and Taco Bell snacks on the populace and see which side they will take.
HonestDictator
Compared to the SK soldiers these guys look pretty malnourished. Hey Kim, how you gonna feed all those people on the battlefield when you can't even feed your own country?
thepersoniamnow
Mark
Those rifles work deadly well. You should know that.
theFu
2 meals a day, a place to live, and a job
or
nothing. No food. No bed. No heat in winter. No jobs available.
"Where do I sign up", is what I'd ask if I lived there. To be fair, this also happens in other parts of the world. Joining the military is a "way out" of local circumstances.
Unfortunately, in NK, it isn't a way out. They can't leave and there aren't any jobs in the country.
elephant200
When David+N.K.) confront Goliath (US)!
ジョージ
I mean, I'd rather not be in front of them to find out.
WA4TKG
I suggest you check the population of the past 40 years of US Veterans that would be compelled to "Sign Up" if you are foolish enough to start anything.
..."Good Luck".
TaiwanIsNotChina
Are they sure those people weren't just lined up to get food?
Peter14
North Korean military uniforms only come in one size. Emaciated. Except for top line Officers whose only size is Jumbo. Something to aspire too in climbing the ranks of the NK military.