In a recent development, North Korea reported that 1.4 million youths have applied to join or rejoin the military in preparation for a “sacred war of destroying the enemy with the arms of the revolution.” The enlistment surge comes amidst escalating tensions with South Korea, with Pyongyang threatening to wipe its neighbor off the map if a war breaks out.
While Pyongyang has a history of making exaggerated enlistment claims, Reuters pointed out that the secretive state likely has around 1.28 million active soldiers and 600,000 reservists. There have also been speculations about North Korean soldiers being deployed to Ukraine following a military cooperation agreement with Russia.
Despite reports of North Korean weapons being used by Russia in Ukraine, there is no concrete evidence of Pyongyang troops’ presence in the country. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft law to ratify a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with North Korea, signaling continued support for the regime.
Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation.
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