In November last year, North Korea sent between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers to Russia. These troops were deployed to the frontlines in the Kursk region. According to South Korean intelligence, approximately 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed, and 2,700 have been injured. However, North Korean state media has not mentioned this deployment.
New military recruits are scheduled to begin service in April, but many young people are desperate to avoid conscription. Initially, the military exempted individuals from service if they were missing both index fingers. After this policy became known, more young people began deliberately injuring their fingers to avoid enlistment. In response, authorities tightened the requirements, now stating that only those missing all fingers on both hands are exempt. This stricter policy has led to a rise in self-harm among young people.
Many North Koreans, aware of the heavy casualties on the Russian battlefield, are trying to evade conscription. There is also widespread anger over being forced to fight in another country's war. Leader Kim Jong-un is pushing young people to serve in an attempt to recover from economic and food policy failures, but this approach may be causing him to lose public support.
Viewer Comments:
Do they really want to be involved in another country’s war that much?
This is a vicious cycle. They need to end the war as soon as possible.
Any country that forces its young people to do this is truly insane.
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