\u201cNot just the soldiers but the officers are also discontent\u2026 In the army, soldiers are advised not to have conversation in groups larger than two. If more than two start talking they always end up criticizing the state.\u201d <\/p>\n
The 4th issue of \u201cNK In & Out\u201d published by the Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet) depicted that North Koreans are more and more discontent with the regime. <\/p>\n
During an interview with NKnet, a former North Korean People\u2019s Army officer who defected to China described the hopeless and desperate lives of North Koreans. \u201cThis year, there were some people who starved to death even in Pyongyang where I served, let alone countryside\u2026 There is no food distribution. The situation in [North] Korea is hopeless so I decided to defect.\u201d <\/p>\n
However, lives of the soldiers in the army were described to be better despite poor salary and lack of supplies. \u201cFor every soldier, 230g of corn was distributed per meal. Side dishes included three or four pieces of salted radish and cabbage soup. Officers receive half-rice half-corn meal but side dishes are same\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough there were no deaths due to starvation, many died from diseases after suffering malnutrition in the army hospital\u2026 When I was in the army, 30 to 40 out of 120 soldiers of a company were diagnosed as malnourished. This year\u2019s food distribution was again reduced because of last year\u2019s flood and even more soldiers will suffer from malnourishment.\u201d <\/p>\n
Despite the destitute food situation, barracks had electricity 18 hours a day and every soldier had a bed and a locker, NK In & Out reported. There was even a DVD player in each soldiers barrack which was used for educational purposes. But despite education on morality soldiers continue to rob civilians due to lack of food distribution. \u201cBecause of the tenuous food situation, soldiers are always angry and desperate. So it is very hard to control them.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cNK In & Out\u201d further reported that despite education on morality, beatings and corruption still exist in the North Korean army. <\/p>\n
Kim S. (31) who was interviewed by NKnet was enlisted in 1995 and commissioned after graduating from an officer candidate school. He had served as an officer for six years until this May. He defected to China in September and is now hiding in a safe place in China. When asked about his future plans, he answered, \u201cI don\u2019t know yet\u2026 but for sure, I won\u2019t go back to [North] Korea.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cNot just the soldiers but the officers are also discontent\u2026 In the army, soldiers are advised not to have conversation in groups larger than two. If more than two start talking they always end up criticizing the state.\u201d The 4th issue of \u201cNK In & Out\u201d published by the Network for North Korean Democracy and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":7720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[645],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy"],"yoast_head":"\n