The North Korean authorities have ordered the armed forces and civilians to attend three days of anti-aircraft and battle training exercises, Daily NK has learned. The reason behind the training, which runs from the 29th to the 31st, is unclear, but it may be a precaution against social unrest while senior officers are in Pyongyang.
An inside source from North Hamkyung Province told Daily NK on the 30th, “This order came down from the Party Central Military Commission entitled, ‘On beginning training for the army and people.’ Currently, soldiers are doing anti-aircraft training and people have been mobilized for evacuations.”
“This is not like that training we had in the spring, where everyone was out on full combat mobilization,” the source acknowledged. However, “We don’t know the reason why they suddenly ordered everyone out for autumn training like this. It’s unusual, so people are puzzled.”
“The Central Party ordered that the training should last for three days from the 29th. People are complaining amongst themselves because they have no idea why they need to be mobilized from 5 in the morning until late at night,” the she went on.
Although the logic behind the move is unclear, the source said there is the possibility that the central military authorities ordered the training sessions because they were concerned that base discipline might be lost after ranking officers and political commissars were called to Pyongyang for military meetings.
“In this training there are these slogans that say, ‘We must accept the sole leadership of the Marshal [Kim Jong Eun],’” the source said. “Also, there have been lectures telling us that ‘If we all unite behind the Party there is nothing we can’t do.’”
However, “In reality, people have little interest in these exercises and can’t see the point of them. They’re only doing it because they’ve been told to do it by the Upper [Central Party], but they are much more concerned about quickly getting back to work.”
