North Korean soldier flees torment, leaves chaos in wake
A North Korean soldier chose to escape from the military. According to media reports, the serviceman, identified as Kim, was harassed and beaten by his senior colleagues. This treatment stemmed from his inability to deliver a carton of cigarettes.
Kim was in his third year serving in the Corps Communication Company, located in Haeju, South Hwanghae Province, when he deserted. "Daily North Korea" reports that his decision was driven by continuous beatings and harassment by senior soldiers. Kim was unable to meet his superior's demands to deliver a carton of cigarettes, which led to the bullying. His family was in a difficult financial situation, and he did not want to ask them for help.
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The unit commander encouraged other senior soldiers to torment Kim and force him to perform various simple tasks, including laundry. If Kim showed even the slightest delay, senior soldiers did not hesitate to beat and attack him. On March 13th, when he was supposed to repair broken communication lines, he took advantage of a moment of inattention and deserted from his unit.
Kim disappeared with a weapon, which triggered an internal alarm. Officers are trying to find him without informing their superiors to avoid consequences. "There’s an atmosphere where newly enlisted soldiers ... must endure beatings and harassment for about six months," says a source in an interview with "Daily North Korea." They add, "But we’re not talking about a new recruit here. This is a third-year soldier in his 20s with hot-blooded youth. No one in that position could endure such harsh treatment without considering desertion."
A source from the portal explains that in the North Korean military, there is a belief that younger soldiers should meet the expectations of older ones. "The reality here is that unless parents provide support from behind the scenes throughout military service, their children will suffer all kinds of hardships in the military," he adds.
Desertion due to harassment from superiors isn’t a one-time occurrence but keeps happening repeatedly. It’s urgent to address issues like violence and harassment within the military fundamentally, creating conditions where soldiers can serve with peace of mind, says an anonymous source to "Daily North Korea."
