Soldiers’ discharge dates postponed for inter-Korean summit

North Korean soldiers in North Pyongan Province. Image: Daily NK

Daily NK sources have reported that in preparation for the third South-North Korean summit, a special security directive was passed down that postponed the pending discharge of some soldiers who were approaching their discharge dates.  

Special deployments of leadership personnel have also occurred in the border regions near the DMZ and by the Sino-Korean border to strengthen security.

“Going into September, all military personnel have had their terms of service extended and have been on high alert to ensure national security during North Korea’s foundation holiday (September 9) and the South-North Korean summit,” a source in North Hwanghae Province said on September 19.  

From last month, North Korea has also launched a new crackdown on illegal activities in the border region and is restricting freedom of movement for its citizens. This is causing difficulties for those trying to import goods into North Korea from China.

“Those who were expecting discharge papers from the military in August have had their service extended by up to two months. After spending a grueling 10 years looking forward to getting out of the military, many are stuck in limbo waiting for the discharge orders to be issued,” a source in Kangwon Province said.

When the North Korean military was first established, regular conscripts were only required to serve seven years in the case of men and five for women. However, after the widespread famine in the mid 1990s, the terms were increased to thirteen years for men and later reduced to ten.

The General Staff Department in North Korea is responsible for the recruitment and discharge of soldiers from the military.

It is also anticipated that there will be difficulties in providing transport for the discharged soldiers due to the postponement.

Unlike the South Korea military, the North Korean military specifies set days where large groups of soldiers are discharged at the same time, creating a strain on the railway system and requiring significant resources to accomplish.

“An order came down that under no circumstances were there to be any problems allowed to happen that would ruin the celebratory atmosphere of the summit meetings,” a source in South Hwanghae Province added.

“In accordance with this directive, security forces were dispatched to the rail lines and roads, with special emphasis on stricter inspections while passing through checkpoints going towards the capitol.”

Even after verifying one’s movement pass and identification card, guards are now asking for additional information to verify each traveler’s destination and means of travel.  

“Even passengers that are taking a simple round-trip train ride between Pyongyang and Hyesan are having to deal with very rigorous additional travel restrictions, prompting merchants to delay their travel plans by several days rather than deal with the hassle of having to transport goods under these conditions,” a source in Ryanggang Province said.

*Translated by Brian Boyle