There are concerns that North Korean soldiers’ fighting strength and discipline are weakening as they spend more time farming than training.<\/p>\n
A military source told Daily NK recently that units with the IV Corps in Ryongyon county, South Hwanghae province, are prioritizing agricultural work over training, despite ongoing regular winter military exercises.<\/p>\n
Soldiers are so occupied with tending crops, raising livestock and maintaining fish farms that both training and basic guard duties are being neglected.<\/p>\n
North Korean military units must provide for their own nutritional needs through farming and raising livestock. Most units maintain bean fields, rabbit hutches and goat pens, while larger units even operate greenhouses and fish farms, according to the source.<\/p>\n
These agricultural initiatives stem from Kim Jong Un’s focus on soldiers’ nutrition since becoming supreme leader. Kim routinely inspects soldiers’ diet during military base visits.<\/p>\n
“Since the supreme leader praises military farms during his inspections, the military has made farm yields a priority,” the source explained.<\/p>\n
However, some believe these practices are undermining military discipline.<\/p>\n
“Soldiers aren’t just missing training to work the farms, they’re also leaving base more frequently for supplies. More contact with civilian society means more exposure to illegal publications and recordings, which seems to be weakening discipline,” the source said.<\/p>\n
After spending full days working in fields, soldiers often fall asleep during guard duty. In essence, these additional responsibilities frequently lead to negligence in their primary military obligations.<\/p>\n
Despite this serious erosion of discipline, commanders who should be controlling the troops are struggling to address the issue. With superiors emphasizing food production, unit commanders have little choice but to assign troops to agricultural work and permit frequent off-base trips.<\/p>\n
The soldiers themselves resent their farming duties.<\/p>\n
“Even the soldiers disapprove of how much labor goes into farming. They joke that they often feel more like farmers, ranchers or construction workers than soldiers,” the source said.<\/p>\n