＜Inside N. Korea＞Military Service Period Extended Again - Men Now Serve 10 Years, Women 7 Years

According to ASIAPRESS reporting partners, North Korea has increased military service requirements to 10 years for men and 7 years for women. This represents a two-year extension for both genders, reversing the reductions made in 2021. Here's the latest on the situation from local reporting partners. (JEON Sung-jun / KANG Ji-won)

◆ Authorities Try to Appease Public Opinion with Send-off Events and Paid Leave

Every spring in North Korea, "chomo" (military recruitment and enlistment processing) begins. This process typically starts in March when high school students graduate and concludes in April.

A reporting partner in North Hamgyong Province, identified as "B," reports that authorities are holding various events praising military service and offering preferential treatment to soothe new recruits and their parents.
"This year, the party arranged for recruits to stay with their parents in service facilities, including local hotels, until departure. Despite it being the agricultural mobilization period, parents of new recruits were given five days of paid leave to spend time with their children," B said.
B also mentioned that recruits in uniform visit their schools and parents' workplaces to say farewell, while enterprises and schools are organizing send-off gatherings.
Similar events in Ryanggang Province are causing fatigue among local residents. Reporting Partner A said: "Despite everyone struggling, we received orders to support the recruits. Our women's union collected 2,000 won from each member to provide snacks for recruits. The 'snacks' are just pieces of bread that will be given during the send-off ceremony at the station."
※The women's union's official name is the "Socialist Women's Union of Korea," primarily composed of unemployed housewives.

◆ Service Extended to 10 Years, Rumors of Final Two Years in Labor Brigades

While recruitment activities were in full swing, it was confirmed that this year's enlistees will serve two more years than previously required. Reporting Partner A in Ryanggang Province reported in late April:
"This year, men serve 10 years and women 7 years."
This information was verified through multiple sources, including parents of recruits. Reporting Partner B in North Hamgyong Province shared similar news in late April:
"Military service is officially set at 10 years for men and 7 years for women this year. There's a rumor that the final two years will be spent in 'collective placements' at socialist construction sites before discharge."
"Collective placement" refers to the practice of assigning high school graduates or discharged soldiers to important national construction projects, mines, or farms. While officially voluntary, it has been used as a means to secure forced labor.

◆ Serious Shortage of Recruits, Women Now Exceed 40% of New Enlistees

This extension marks the first change since 2021, when service periods were reduced from 13 years for men and 8 years for women to 8 and 5 years respectively.
Reporting Partner A explained the reasons behind the change:
"There's a shortage of recruits, and with soldiers being heavily mobilized for socialist construction projects, the military is understaffed. These days, people have only one child and prefer daughters over sons, which worsens the shortage. Many couples don't have children even after marriage."
Reporting Partner B reported on the recruitment shortfall:
"This year, recruitment continues until mid-May, and they're taking everyone eligible. Those selected are sent to the military without exception unless there are special circumstances."
B also explained why the recruitment period was extended to May:
"The extension allows them to conscript students who failed their entrance exams for universities and technical schools. I heard that due to severe shortages, women now make up over 40% of recruits."
Reporting Partner A also mentioned female recruits:
"In our neighborhood, more parents have daughters in the military than sons. Authorities are openly threatening severe legal punishment for those evading military service."

◆ Despite Shortages, Defectors' Families Excluded from Service

Reporting Partner B reported that authorities are re-examining previously rejected individuals:
"The city mobilization department is conducting new medical examinations and reviewing medical records to ensure no one escapes service."
Despite these shortages, B reported that families of North Korean defectors and political prison camp inmates remain excluded from service:
"Even with the shortage of recruits, they exclude families of executed people, political prison camp inmates, and defectors."
Meanwhile, the Korean Central News Agency announced on April 28 that the Korean Workers' Party Central Military Commission had officially acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia. ASIAPRESS could not confirm whether the extension of military service is related to this deployment to Russia.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.