Several North Korean sanatoriums originally meant for soldiers needing rest or medical treatment are now being used for different purposes.<\/p>\n
A source in North Korea told Daily NK recently that Korean People’s Army (KPA) Sanatorium No. 47 in Sinhung county, South Hamgyong province, and KPA Paek Song Won Sanatorium in Kusong, North Pyongan province, have been redesignated as “garrison areas for special military exchange.”<\/p>\n
“Following this redesignation, all civilian employees were dismissed at the beginning of the month and temporarily replaced by new staff sent by the authorities,” the source said.<\/p>\n
The staff changes aim to increase security for the special military activities taking place at these facilities.<\/p>\n
According to the source, North Korea’s official explanation for the “garrison areas for special military exchange” designation is that they will house wounded soldiers.<\/p>\n
Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that Aleksandr Matsegora, Russia’s ambassador to North Korea, stated in a Feb. 9 interview with Russian state media that North Korea would be accepting hundreds of Russian soldiers wounded in the Ukraine war for treatment and rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
This appears to be connected to the redesignation of Sanatorium No. 47 and Paek Song Won Sanatorium.<\/p>\n
“Service members familiar with these facilities say the soldiers admitted there, supposedly for injury treatment, are actually all healthy and engaged in military training and technical exchange. This doesn’t match what you’d expect from normal rehabilitation,” the source said.<\/p>\n
The sanatoriums’ beds and medical equipment sit mostly unused while the soldiers housed there focus on tactical training and combat simulations.<\/p>\n
Given these facilities’ new designation and reports that the soldiers there are primarily conducting military drills, North Koreans are cautiously speculating that these soldiers may be preparing for deployment to Russia.<\/p>\n
The source said long-serving civilian employees of the sanatoriums are upset about being suddenly dismissed from their positions.<\/p>\n
These abrupt actions suggest the regime is taking strict measures to prevent locals from leaking sensitive military information.<\/p>\n
Local residents believe the sanatoriums are being used for military cooperation with Russia.<\/p>\n
“Given reports of North Korean troops being deployed to Russia, locals think the sanatoriums are hosting high-level military cooperation aimed at sharing battlefield experience. Many believe the story about treating wounded soldiers is just a cover for actual military exchange with Russia,” the source said.<\/p>\n
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in Pyongyang last June. The treaty, which includes mutual defense provisions, officially took effect on Dec. 4.<\/p>\n