North Korea mobilizes ahead of US-South Korea drills

North Korea has issued a general mobilization order calling on its citizens to join the army to strengthen its military ahead of the largest-ever joint military exercise between the US and South Korea.

North Korean army soldiers. Photo: The Times

The North Korean government has called on all young people in the country, from high school students to university students, to register for military service, and has asked all citizens under the age of 40 to re-enlist, NK Daily reported yesterday, citing an unnamed source.

The move is believed to be in response to the joint US-South Korea military exercise scheduled to begin on March 7. The exercise will involve about 15,000 US troops, double the number of previous years.

The North's National Defense Commission had previously issued a similar order, ordering provincial military mobilization units to interview local workers who met the reenlistment criteria. All those who met the requirements were placed on the reserve list.

On the same day, North Korea's state news agency KCNA broadcast a message from leader Kim Jong-un ordering the armed forces to be ready to use nuclear weapons at any time, and put the army on a preemptive strike posture.

North Korea has threatened to launch preemptive strikes on its rivals, including South Korea, Japan and the United States. However, experts say Pyongyang has yet to develop the ability to fire long-range missiles with miniaturized warheads.

According to VNE