In a dramatic response to escalating tensions with South Korea, North Korea has reported that more than 1.4 million young individuals have volunteered to enlist or re-enlist in the Korean People’s Army (KPA). Pyongyang claims this surge in military interest was triggered by recent actions from Seoul, particularly the release of propaganda leaflets via drones over its territory, which North Korea interprets as a serious breach of sovereignty.
This wave of enlistments, taking place on October 14 and 15, reportedly includes youth league officials, students, and workers from various sectors throughout the country. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) emphasized that such enlistments are driven by a robust sense of national unity and a determination to defend against South Korean provocations.
KCNA
KCNA characterized the enlistees as ready to seek retribution against what they call “the scum who committed a hideous crime,” framing their commitment as essential for protecting North Korea’s socialist system. They attributed excitement and urgency to the decision, noting that many youth signed petitions pledging to combat perceived threats.
Sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong, delivered a stark warning to South Korea, stating, “If these provocations happen again, the consequences will be horrible,” while accusing Seoul’s military of direct involvement in the drone incidents.
Mass mobilizations in North Korea are not uncommon during spikes in military tension; a similar occurrence saw nearly 3.5 million individuals allegedly volunteer for the military in response to U.S. pressures back in 2017. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff have neither confirmed nor denied the accusations, and there are suggestions that activists—not military personnel—may have operated the drones in question, a tactic they have employed in the past.