Life in the North Korea Army

[Peter Daley]

"Ken" One of my former students was a North Korean soldier for 10 years - the length of North Koera's mandatory military service, and he certainly shared some fascinating anecdotes into that life.  While reflecting on my time spent with him - and why the hell haven't I been better at keeping in touch? I decided to look for articles that explore facets of those ten years.  He is interviewed in this article, as is my other long-term student before Covid, Sharon. I was there the days Sharon and Ken were interviewed to give some moral support. That was over 10 years ago? Wow.

May 20, 2015: North-Korean Refugee Forced Work Coal Reveals Journey (John Power for The Daily Mail)

The famine in North Korea may be over, but poverty and hunger remains rife. More than a quarter of North Korean children are chronically malnourished, according to U.N. data, and the country's economy is roughly one fortieth the size of South Korea. And serving in the military was no guarantee of a meal at the end of the day.

One former soldier - another of the defectors who gather together in Seoul -  describes being constantly hungry during his 10 years of military service, which finished in 2010. The man, who goes by 'Ken' and doesn't want his face shown out of fear for his safety, says his meals in the army often consisted of little more than a small cup of rice and pickled radish. ... Despite years in the military, the earlier defection of his mother and brother left him blacklisted from work. 'I was always rejected because my mother and brother were missing,' he said. 'I could not even get a job that had much lower requirements than my skills and qualifications.'

I took a photo of the interview:

Ken was interviewed for this piece:
March 2, 2018: A North Korean's Unexpected Challenges in the South: Learning the Language & Ditching the Accent (CBC News)

Through his years in the military, Eom was loyal to the regime, even after watching fellow soldiers get crushed under steel beams during forced construction projects in Pyongyang.

April 12, 2024: Young North Koreans Are Taking Pains to Avoid Military Service (Daily NK)

More articles will of course be posted when I have the time and inclination....