Yanji, China — A source from Hoiryeong reported on January 17th that the citizens of that city began conducting a large-scale joint winter military drill with the army. .
Another source said the same day, “A training order was announced several days ago. All vehicles are covered with camouflage nets. Starting today, those vehicles without camouflage nets will not be allowed to be driven on roadways.”
Every year, North Korean authorities conduct a large-scale joint military drill between the army and the people from the beginning of December through the end of January the following year. The winter training begins with a brownout exercise across the country. Organized into people’s units, the North Korean people undergo both an emergency evacuation exercise and brownout training. For the evacuation exercise, people are required to take their own food, go to a place that is normally 8 to 12 km away from their home and stay the night there.
The authorities say that they perform a large-scale joint training during winter in order to strengthen people’s capability to defend themselves from the enemy under extreme cold weather conditions.
Even during the March of Tribulation (the mass starvation period in the 90s), the North conducted its annual winter military training. However, there was no training order last December, and many wondered why.
The sources said the city of Hoiryeong issued an emergency order to the public on January 17 at 3 a.m. The city then mobilized Local Red Guards, Red Young Guards and reserve forces, and prepared for battle. Authorities also carried out an inspection of war-time supplies. After the inspection, the reserve forces practiced making lodgment and the Red Guards engaged in scouting drills.
At 12 midnight just before the emergency call was issued, fully armed border guards started their 40 km march, the sources said.
During the drill, civilians have to wear a camouflage net on their chests and backs when they go out of their homes. Officers are stationed in the streets to crack down on those vehicles without camouflage netting and to check whether the lights of the vehicles are covered properly.
Every road that leads to the city of Hoiryeong is being blocked to control the traffic of vehicles and people on the road.
“Unlike previous trainings, it is like a real war because even the reserve forces and Red Guard are taking part in the drill with their badges of rank on,” the sources said, “The party cadres and inspectors are encouraging people to actively participate in the drill.”
The current winter military drill is drawing particular attention. That is because the drill is taking place when the country is engaged in a serious conflict with the U.S. over its nuclear programs. The U.S. just brought 20 F-16 Fighting Falcons into Kunsan Airbase and rotated more than three hundred of its airmen in the South
The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland of North Korea said Sunday that the country was greatly offended by the US which has been increasing its military presence around the Korean Peninsula. The Committee accused the US of trying to destroy the country and urged the US to immediately stop threatening the country.
