North Korea has announced that following the recent incident involving alleged South Korean drone incursions, young people across the country harboring animosity toward South Korea are stepping forward to volunteer for military service and re-enlistment.
According to the state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun, over 1.4 million youth alliance members and students applied for enlistment or re-enlistment in the People’s Army over just two days, on October 14 and 15. The paper described this response as driven by “a powerful surge of hatred and a desire for revenge” among a new generation eager to “sever this horrific connection” with South Korea.
In its coverage, Rodong Sinmun condemned South Korea for allegedly committing “serious violations of sovereignty against Pyongyang” and for fostering “a state of tension reminiscent of the eve of war,” accusing the South of responding with shameless and hypocritical rhetoric.
The publication issued a stark warning: “If war breaks out, South Korea will be annihilated,” adding, “If they desire war, we will willingly bring it to an end,” thus emphasizing a readiness for conflict and intensifying public animosity.
It further declared, “We are determined to eliminate the arch-enemies who seek to undermine our socialist system, our dignity, and our happiness,” while noting that the number of applicants continues to rise.
The enthusiasm for enlistment among North Korean youth appears to be part of a broader campaign designed to incite hatred toward South Korea. On Sunday and Monday, state media reported widespread public anger in response to the alleged drone incursions.
North Korea seems to be leveraging this incident to bolster patriotism among its youth while simultaneously urging a transformation of this sentiment into economic progress, emphasizing the importance of internal unity.
Rodong Sinmun emphasized the importance of channeling this national sentiment into economic progress, explicitly highlighting efforts at the Unnyul County farm. The report stated, “With a determined will to eliminate those who dare to undermine our sovereignty and dignity, we are motivated to increase rice production.” This message connects the current situation to the struggles of previous generations of patriotic farmers, aiming to rally the public around both military and economic goals.
