Nearly 800,000 people signed up to join the North Korean military in a single day, the country’s state media said on Saturday.
North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun says 800,000 students and workers signed up to fight the United States on Friday, just one day after North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea between South Korea and Japan. The total number included many North Koreans trying to reenlist, the paper noted.
“The growing enthusiasm of young people to join the army is a demonstration of the unshakable will of the younger generation to ruthlessly wipe out the war maniacs who are making their last desperate efforts to eliminate our precious socialist country and realize the great cause of national reunification without failure and a clear manifestation of their ardent patriotism,” wrote the state newspaper.
North Korea’s recruitment drive and missile launch came as the United States and South Korea began joint military exercises last week. The 11-day Operation Freedom Shield 23 began on March 13 and will run for 11 days.
NORTH KOREA SAYS ICBM LAUNCH WAS A ‘WARNING’
North Korean state media say 800,000 citizens expressed a desire to enlist or re-enlist in the North Korean military on Friday. (AP)
Kim Jong Un’s regime has expressed outrage at joint US-South Korea military exercises. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
US-SOUTH KOREA EXERCISES DISCOURAGE NORTH KOREA, PENTAGON TAKES UP HOURS AFTER NORTH KOREA LAUNCH ICBM
The Kim regime launched another ballistic missile on Sunday, which flew about 500 miles across the country and landed in the sea off its east coast, according to South Korean and Japanese assessments.
No injuries from the launch were reported, and Japan says the missile landed outside its exclusive economic zone.
North Korea cited joint military exercises between the United States, Japan and South Korea as the reason for its launches, promising to respond to such operations with “mighty and overwhelming” force.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon says such operations have proved to be an effective deterrent for North Korea.
“I think what’s important for people to understand is, one, deterrence still works,” Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters last week. “Despite firing missiles into the ocean, North Korea is not attacking, nor should it be, and that the United States, Japan, South Korea and other allies and partners in the region will continue to work together to expand that deterrence and maintain our safe countries.”
The US, Japanese and South Korean militaries are conducting multiple joint operations. (South Korean Ministry of Defense via AP)
A South Korean Army K1A2 tank moves during a military exercise with US forces. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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North Korea’s increased aggression in the region has mirrored China’s aggression towards Taiwan.
