1.4 million North Korean men apply to join army - Reuters
Photo: 1.4 million men have applied to join the DPRK army (Getty Images)
In North Korea, about 1.4 million young people have applied to join or return to the army. Among them are even students, Reuters reports.
Young people, including students and representatives of youth leagues, who signed petitions to join the army, were determined to fight in the “sacred war of destroying the enemy with the arms of the revolution.”
Photos published by the official KCNA news agency show the young men signing the petitions in an unknown location.
“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,” the KCNA report said.
North Korea has previously made similar claims that young men are trying to enlist in the military during times of heightened tension, although, as Reuters notes, such claims are difficult to verify.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), North Korea has 1.28 million active soldiers and about 600,000 reservists.
Seoul's Defense Ministry did not comment on KCNA's latest report, but warned that if North Korea harms the security of South Koreans, that day will be the "end of its regime.”
Growing tensions between North Korea and South Korea
Tensions between North Korea and South Korea have existed for a long time. In different years, this tension has been gaining and losing momentum.
In recent days, tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen sharply again. The reason for the new round was leaflets criticizing Kim Jong Un. In addition, North Korea has accused South Korea of launching drones that allegedly flew to its capital. North Korea also blew up its sections of inter-Korean roads and put its troops on alert.
