North Korea’s Third Army Corps has seen a sharp increase in desertions during the first half of this year, triggering an emergency inspection by the General Staff Department, a military source recently told The Daily NK.
The inspection, which began Sept. 1, follows an internal report highlighting the severity of the desertion problem within the corps stationed in the city of Nampo.
The military source said the review is focusing on the causes of desertion and potential countermeasures. Preliminary findings suggest most deserters are soldiers who have served less than two years and experienced severe beatings and verbal abuse from senior soldiers.
One deserter from February remains unaccounted for, and several more have fled in the past month alone, the source said.
Unlike past trends where new recruits were more likely to desert, this year has seen an uptick in desertions among soldiers with over a year of service.
In response, the General Staff Department has ordered that soldiers with less than two years of service not be assigned to solo duties or given individual leave.
The Third Army Corps has also been instructed to form 10 three-person military police teams to track down and return deserters by autumn. Each team will include one officer and two enlisted personnel, with preference given to soldiers from families who can afford the associated travel costs.
The corps aims to complete the deserter recovery operation before winter training begins on Dec. 1.
The General Staff Department is using this inspection to emphasize the importance of honest reporting and comprehensive countermeasures across all military units.
The inspection is expected to conclude around Sept. 13.
The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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