Why do North Korean soldiers defect?

(Baonghean.vn)- Recently, a North Korean soldier escaped to South Korea by swimming across a river, the second defector from the country's military in just one week. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the soldier escaped by crossing a fast-flowing section of the Imjin River that flows through both North and South Korea, across the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

What are the military conditions in North Korea like that cause soldiers to desert?

Army size

North Korea has one of the largest ground forces in the world, with more than 1 million active soldiers and over 6 million in the reserves. All citizens over the age of 18 are conscripted, which means there are more than 7.7 million reservists in the army.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with General Ri Pyong Chol (right). Photo: Reuters

Service time

Women must serve in the military for about seven years, and men for 10 years. Those who pass the university entrance exam join the military after graduation. However, the time of service will be reduced depending on the field of study at the university. Scientists serve in the military for only about three years. Usually, those with a university degree will serve in the military for five years.

North Korea's defense budget

The North Korean military is the largest in the world. With 1.19 million full-time soldiers and more than 7.7 million trained reservists, North Korea possesses 3,500 battle tanks, 72 submarines, 302 helicopters, 563 fighter jets and 21,100 artillery pieces, all of which make up one of the most powerful armies in the world.

Meanwhile, the US military budget is among the largest in the world. In 2013, the country spent $618 billion a year on weapons purchases and stockpiled 8,000 nuclear warheads. In addition, the US military has expanded globally, with 800 foreign military bases in 70 countries around the world, with more than 1 million soldiers stationed there. In China, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has 1.25 million active soldiers, and in India, 1.1 million soldiers.

Life in the Army

According to a 2015 article by a North Korean defector published in The Guardian (UK), North Korean soldiers are only provided with a few potatoes a day, while special forces soldiers receive more generous rations.

Kim Yoo Sung, a North Korean soldier, recalled: “In my high school class, there were 25 boys. Five went to college, and the remaining 20 joined the army. The soldiers were sent home on leave to recover. Most were too weak to even walk, so their parents had to pick them up and nurse them back to health. When their health improved, they returned to the army.”

Military defectors have even alleged that rape is common in the military, with senior officers abusing their power to rape women. Lee So Yeun, a female defector, told The Korea Herald: “Out of 120 soldiers in my unit, there were only 20 men, but they were all high-ranking officers. I was in the first squad, but some leaders in the second squad raped every single low-ranking female soldier.”

In addition, conscripts are taught to follow the teachings of late President Kim Jong-in and leader Kim Jong-un. Another North Korean defector said soldiers are often “brainwashed” and “almost devoid of logic.”

As for clothing, a set of summer clothes was given to each soldier every two years. Defector Kim Hun said the clothes were poorly made, and they hurt: “The inside of the winter boots were stuffed with cotton and sewn very roughly, so after wearing them for a while, the cotton would wear off and it would hurt every time you wore them.”

Lan Ha

(According to Newsweek)