Soldiers serve in the North Korean military anywhere from five to 13 years, depending on their gender and the type of unit they serve in, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a reporting partner in the North Korean military told Daily NK on May 24 that “service periods change depending on whether a soldier is male or female or in a combat or non-combat unit.”
He added: “There are also basic service periods and criteria for permissible service periods in accordance with directives from the Supreme Leader [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un].”
For example, female officers and enlisted personnel in non-combat units, who have the shortest service periods, have to serve as least five years. Female soldiers in combat units can serve seven years, while those in specialized units can serve up to seven years as well. Women in specialized units must receive permission from their party committee and their unit’s manpower department to serve that long, however.
For women in specialized units, the army permits long-term service because certain units require special skills, but in ordinary cases, service periods are generally short, the reporting partner said.
Men typically serve longer than women
Service periods are similarly defined for male soldiers, but are generally slightly longer compared to female soldiers, the reporting partner said.
“The service period for male officers and enlisted personnel in non-combat units is seven years and 10 years for combat units, but men can serve up to 13 years in specialized combat units. This is because rotations for specialized troops in combat units are slow, while rotations for military units accessible to anyone or dual-role units are quick.”
In short, while basic service period for male officers and enlisted personnel is seven to 10 years, men in specialized units such as the Strategic Force can serve up to 13 years. The army appears to lengthen the service periods for male soldiers in units that require specialization, just as it does for women.
Combat units that allow 13-year service terms are generally Strategic Force units that operate nuclear weapons or missiles.
However, the reporting partner said that “about 90% of Strategic Force personnel are officers or those kept in the military because their skills are so specialized.”
North Korean soldiers respond in different ways to the lengthy service periods required by the military, the reporting partner said.
“Some people want to get out of the army before the best time of their lives ends and enter society to establish themselves. Others want to serve in the military for as long as possible before getting a discharge or become specialized enough the military will keep them on. Those in the latter category say say that it was so challenging just to get adjusted to military life that they have no idea what they will do if they return to society.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Daily NK works with a network of reporting partners who live inside North Korea and China. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.
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