North Korea’s General Political Bureau is now using “combat record books” as an effective political work tool. The military aims to boost morale and inspire enthusiasm by documenting soldiers’ actual combat performance and achievements.
A Daily NK military source in North Korea recently reported that the General Political Bureau issued a directive on June 2. The directive, titled “Creative Composition and Reward System for Combat Record Books,” went to political departments at the corps level throughout the military.
What are combat record books?
“Combat record books” are propaganda-style photo albums maintained by the military. These books record soldiers’ training results and meritorious deeds through photos and text. Political instructors at the company level and above produce and manage them according to guidelines from higher-level political departments.
In the past, these books simply summarized each company’s activities with basic photos and explanations. However, the General Political Bureau has announced a new policy through this directive. The bureau plans to transform combat record books into practical political work tools by making their content more creative and diverse.
This change appears to follow up on a policy presented at the Eighth Enlarged Meeting of the Eighth Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Kim Jong Un chaired that meeting on May 28, where officials discussed “strengthening the functions and roles of political organs at all levels.” Military analysts interpret this as an effort to reorganize political work methods and systems within the military.
The General Political Bureau designated two companies under the 11th Corps (Storm Corps) command as pilot units. The bureau dispatched propaganda and agitation guidance members to provide guidelines on combat record book editing direction and new creative composition methods. This guidance period will last 10 days, starting from June 3.
The source explained that guidance members will assess how effective the new format actually is. They will prepare standards and models for expanded implementation throughout the military by July 1, when regular summer training begins.
Reward system creates immediate motivation for soldiers
“Combat record books now serve a different purpose than before,” the source said. “Previously, they only recorded companies’ special achievements or history. Now they are changing into tools that evaluate practical training results, soldiers’ voluntary participation, and ideological growth.”
The General Political Bureau has implemented a substantial reward policy. Soldiers whose names appear in combat record books six or more times per year can receive party membership, university recommendations, and tours of Pyongyang and scenic spots.
This strategy enhances the effectiveness of political work by encouraging performance through rewards.
“Previously, soldiers didn’t attach much significance to having their names appear in company combat record books,” the source said. “But now they are making efforts to achieve meritorious deeds on their own. As company combat record books lead to material and political rewards, immediate motivation develops and changes are appearing in soldiers’ attitudes.”
While concentrated training by General Political Bureau members takes place, the 11th Corps political department is making rounds to remaining companies. They teach methods for creatively organizing combat record books and explain the reward system while observing soldiers’ reactions.
At the same time, some companies are piloting a new system. Soldiers themselves record noteworthy achievements in their soldier notebooks. This ensures that meritorious deeds not caught by political instructors don’t go unnoticed. They share these records with the company political department once monthly.
