A female North Korean soldier in North Hamgyong Province allegedly became pregnant by her superior officer, who was already married, and then buried the baby alive to hide its existence. The incident has come under investigation by the authorities, according to North Korean sources.
“A female soldier working in an urban area got pregnant during a relationship with a married superior but hid her pregnancy until she gave birth just a couple of days ago,” said a North Hamgyong Province-based source on August 2. “She had the baby at a civilian’s home near her military base in the intense heat. The authorities found out about the birth after she tried to conceal it from them. She is now under investigation.”
The source reported that the woman gave birth to the baby at the home of a civilian, not a hospital, once she felt the baby coming. “She buried the baby alive in the mountains to hide the fact she had a child. The authorities are also investigating the woman who helped her,” she said.
“The female soldier was unable to eat properly for around ten months [while she was pregnant] and suffered from various difficulties during that period,” the source said. “She wore a leather belt around her waist to hide her pregnancy until the last month before the birth, so her colleagues didn’t realize she was pregnant. When they found out, however, they were appalled.”
The North Korean military prohibits all low-ranking soldiers from engaging in romantic affairs or getting married during the period of their service. If a soldier is found engaging in such activities, they are dishonorably discharged. Most female soldiers who become pregnant are required to undergo an abortion.
“Most female soldiers hide their pregnancy by paying a doctor to get an abortion, but this particular soldier didn’t have enough money,” a separate North Hamgyong Province-based source with knowledge of the incident said.
“Female soldiers generally get wrapped up in controversy over pregnancies right before they leave the service and enter the Party. Male superiors take advantage of powerless female soldiers by approaching them for sexual favors in exchange for ensuring their smooth transition into becoming a member of the Party.”
She explained that the soldier in question had just one year left before the end of her service and that it was likely that she had relations with her superior for such reasons but that “the soldier and her superior will be dishonorably discharged for the crime of ‘corrupting the military spirit.'”
