North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rewarded soldiers who marched in the military parade at the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea with 12-14 days of special leave, according to a source inside the country, after Kim verbally ordered the gesture on Feb. 27 to honor the troops’ efforts during the annual winter exercises.
A source in North Korea’s Kangwon province — who requested anonymity for security reasons — told Daily NK on Friday that Kim issued the order on Mar. 1, after taking a commemorative photograph with soldiers who had participated in the parade. The Ministry of Defense formally issued the directive two days later.
The leave was granted in recognition of the soldiers’ diligence in preparing for the parade on top of their regular duties during the military’s yearly winter exercises — a period when leave is virtually unheard of.
“Since the entire army is currently busily preparing for the winter exercises, nobody would dream of taking leave, but the Supreme Commander declared that these orders must be ‘carried out unconditionally’ to honor the soldiers’ hard work. As a result, commanders of each unit are working to reschedule training,” the source said.
Soldiers are also to receive generous gift packages before departing on leave. North Korea’s I Corps, stationed in Kangwon province, instructed support staff to send soldiers home with enough presents to fill their backpacks. “Our Supreme Commander emphasized that the soldiers who performed so brilliantly at the party congress should be given special consideration so they can hold their heads up high before their parents back home,” the corps said.
Gifts, grievances and gap-filling
The packages being distributed by the I Corps include basic foodstuffs such as rice and cooking oil alongside candy, sweets, canned goods, and high-quality cosmetics and other goods produced at well-known factories in Pyongyang. The I Corps also asked departing soldiers to “share the might of our military and the greatness the Supreme Commander exhibited in the Ninth Party Congress with your parents and neighbors back home.”
The leave and gift packages are, in effect, intended to promote the supreme leader’s “love for the people” — a recurring theme in his leadership style.
The logistics officers tasked with assembling the packages are reportedly frustrated by the challenge. “The soldiers in the parade are supposed to receive flashy gifts, but units’ storehouses are empty. So support staff are desperately trying to source supplies from the trade bureau or partner with the local commercial department. In effect, underlings are breaking their backs to advertise the love of the Marshal (Kim Jong Un),” the source said.
While the soldiers themselves are pleased with the unexpected break, some are said to be anxious that they will face intensive make-up drills once they return.
Separately, the North Korean military is also reportedly providing additional gifts and bonuses to soldiers wounded during service in Russia. “The Supreme Commander personally worries about the health of those injured in the overseas military operation. The Workers’ Party and the State are committed to caring for those who shed their blood for the Fatherland,” the orders said. “As part of the party’s unceasing care, these individuals have received nutritional supplements of the highest quality, as well as a special bonus.”
Reporting from inside North Korea
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