[imText1]A certificate confirms the fact that the main aim of North Korean military service is to serve as a “Safeguard to Kim Jong Il”.
During Kim Il Sung’s rule, the main purpose of North Korean military service was “for national unification and independence, and people’s freedom and liberalization”. However, according to a witness, after the 90’s protection of Kim Jong Il became the principal end. However, this is the first time that tangible evidence of such has been attained.
On the 6th, the DailyNK obtained a “Certificate of Discharge on Expiration of Term of Service” from a defector who had served as a North Korean soldier. The certificate confirmed that the main purpose of the military service was to safeguard Kim Jong Il.
On the Certificate of Discharge, submitted by the defector, Kim Jin Chul (pseudonym, 30, from Wonsan, Kangwondo in North Korea), was written the following: “This verifies that this person has been discharged from military service after guarding the Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il, and faithfully performing the great achievement of national unification and the divine duty of national defense”.
This shows that the order has been completely changed from “This verifies that for national unification and independence, and people’s freedom and liberalization, Comrade 000 is discharged from military service after faithfully performing the great achievement of national unification and national defense”. It affirms that the chief purpose of North Korean military service is not to defend North Korea, but intstead to ensure the safety and protection of Kim Jong Il.
[imText2]The Principal Purpose of South Korean Military Service is to “Protect South Korea, and Constitutional Law”.
The time when the purpose was changed has not yet been affirmed, on the ground that, “…guarding Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il….”, at least it is inferred to be after Kim Jong Il being the Supreme Commander (April 11, 1993).
On Mr. Kim’s Certificate of Discharge, were written only his name, birthdate, enlistment date, and discharge date, and an official seal of his unit affixed; unlike the Military Discharge Certificate of South Korea, with a picture and identification number as well.
Kim Jin Chul, who defected to China in November 2005, said that, “I performed military duties for 10 years and 12 days, yet I could not enter the Party, nor was I allotted a job… On my way to home after the discharge ceremony I cried a lot, thinking about how the compensation for ten years of starvation and hard military training was just a piece of paper (a military discharge certificate)”.
