Kim Min-hyuk
Recently, Kim Jong-un not only proposed a “Two Hostile States Theory”
that denies national unity and reunification, but he also amended the
constitution to solidify this sentence. He has not only built anti-tank
barriers and planted mines in the Demilitarized Zone(DMZ) to block
escape routes but has also demolished symbols of inter-Korean
cooperation, such as the Donghae and Gyeongui railway lines, creating
instability on the Korean Peninsula. Though Kim Jong-un attempts to
seal the borders with the idea of “locking people up forever,” he fails
to realize that his betrayal of his predecessors’ teachings only deepens
the isolation of the regime and increases the suffering of its people.
During my time in the military, I personally endured the hardships of
severe food shortages and the crushing weight of daily survival. The
whole world is aware that North Korean citizens are suffering from
severe food shortages due to repeated floods and economic hardships
under Kim Jong-un’s abnormal rule. The situation within the North
Korean military is no different. There is no rice in the military
rations, and meals are limited to corn and wheat, sometimes
amounting to just three to four spoonfuls. The only side dishes are
salted radishes and cabbage, leading to widespread malnutrition and a
rise in illnesses such as hepatitis. Each year, more soldiers suffer
from declining health due to poor nutrition.
North Korean soldiers are also exposed to extreme conditions with
inadequate clothing. Throughout their mandatory ten-year military
service, soldiers receive a maximum of three sets of uniforms.
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Ill-fitting shoes are common, and due to a lack of proper clothing
supplies, many soldiers resort to stealing civilian clothes to survive.
Soldiers wear a haphazard mix of clothes, making them appear ragtag.
Such poor conditions have driven some soldiers to the point of death.
External information shocks soldiers enduring these harsh military
conditions. North Korean authorities strictly educate soldiers not to
look at or touch anti-regime leaflets, claiming they are coated with
poison. However, it is impossible to shield soldiers completely from the
truth. I, too, have seen the contents of these leaflets, which revealed
the luxurious lives of the Kim family. What began as skepticism turned
into a deep sense of betrayal as I realized the leader had deceived the
people.
Young soldiers are especially sensitive to these leaflets and
broadcasts. Those born after 1990, the generation who lived through
North Korea’s worst food crisis and grew up in the unofficial markets,
known as the “Jangmadang Generation,” now make up a significant
portion of the military. For them, survival and overcoming hunger are
top priorities, and loyalty to the state is naturally weak.
In July, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense resumed
broadcasting anti-regime messages, and within a month, a North
Korean citizen defected by walking across the border. In response,
North Korean authorities transmitted bizarre sounds to block these
broadcasts and even issued earplugs to frontline soldiers. They also
launched a campaign of sending “garbage balloons” southward,
claiming it as a self-defensive measure, yet blaming South Korea for
military tension. Despite these efforts, young soldiers, who already
know the truth, are not easily deceived. Soldiers from the Jangmadang
Generation dance to K-pop and enjoy South Korean clothing and
mannerisms, reflecting the reality within North Korea today.
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In the future, the Jangmadang Generation will become the mainstay
across all areas of North Korean society. No matter what measures
Kim Jong-un takes to correct the ideology of these young soldiers or
block the influx of South Korean culture into the military, he will
never fully control them. Some even refer to the Jangmadang
Generation as a “major opposition party” against the Workers’ Party.
We must continue to provide North Korean soldiers with information
on the luxurious lifestyles of the Kim family, the corruption of the
elites, the real differences in living conditions between the two Koreas,
and possible escape routes. Just as East Germans toppled the Berlin
Wall, the day will come when the young soldiers’ yearning for freedom
and resistance will tear down the walls Kim Jong-un has so carefully
built.
(Former North Korean Military Officer, Served in Gangwon Province as a Soldier and defected in search of freedom in 2020 and now living in South Korea). Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Daily The Spokesman point of view.