The first stage of North Korea’s combined military exercises will conclude on March 17th, Daily NK has learned.
A North Korean military source explained, “The General Staff Department plans to complete the first stage of nationwide training by the 17th. This training involves the mass mobilization of civilians and personnel, movement of men and equipment to certain locations, and concentration of firepower.”
“All artillery, armored vehicle and tank units will continue with their individual targeted firing exercises to the end of the week,” he went on. The light infantry known locally as ‘Special Forces’ is currently engaged in extended marches, he added, explaining that this involves three-day marches without sleep.
Meanwhile, “Those Special Forces members dispatched to the ‘Storm Corps’ are doing undercover raids on specified locations, occupations and kidnapping operations, which local people are supposed to be reporting to the authorities,” he noted, adding, “This is what we call ‘dual training’.”
“After the first stage is complete there will be combined naval fleet, fighter jet and artillery exercises in and around the East Sea,” the source added.
According to the source, civilians are required to take part in the ‘dual training’. Local homes must produce certain signaling flags: when there is an attack a red flag is raised, and at times of safety the flag should be blue. They have also been asked to prepare plastic film, light shields, emergency food supplies and whistles for use in case of chemical weapon attack.
Concerned about possible complaints over the burden of food supply preparation, the authorities have reportedly distributed small amounts of corn to families, the source said. However, this food is not coming from military grain stores, which are only authorized to release supplies in times of war.
