Posted on 06/25/2004 5:53:00 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
/begin my translation
Recently, desertion has become rampant among N. Koraen soldiers, which is a headache for N. Korean authorities.
Kim Young-gil(alias), a N. Korean military officer who came to China on a mission to earn foreign hard curreny, told this reporter on June 24th, "The desertion of ordinary soldiers is on the steep rise at military units, due to food shortage and harsh training. In some units, it has deteriorated to the point where they worry that the military formation is in danger of a wholesale collapse."
He added, "Up until late 90's, deserters were put to military trial, which dealt stiff punishment, including death sentence. These days, discipline has gotten so bad that even if soldiers go AWOL and ran away to their homes, commanding officers resort to cajoling them back to their units. "
He went on to say, "The main reasons for their desertion are hunger and malnutrition. Commanding officers themselves get out to seek deserters. However, they are helpless to take on parents of deserters who adamantly refuse to return their terribly emaciated children."
He said, "Not long ago, at a house located in Hamheung City, S. Hamkyoung Province, military officers came to detain a deserter. He had to face his parent who loudly protested, 'The General(Kim Jong-il)'s military turned into skulls and bones. It is all your fault, comrade officer.' He was in such a quandary. I witness the whole episode."
Lee Wang-choon(alias), a Korean living in China, visited N. Korea early this month. He saw that white rice is sold at 400 won for a kilo(gram) in Chongjin and Musan of N. Hamheung Province. The food shortage is now at its worst since 1995, he gathered. In particular, June and July are the tail end of "Barley Pass"(translator's note: the period when the food stock from last fall harvest runs out but the first harvest of barley(spring crop) is still some time away.) He witness that many now subsist on grass roots and tree barks.
White rice was sold at 44 won when Economic Management Improvement Decree was implemented on July 1st, 2002. Its price now went up ten fold.
Recently escaped N. Koreans said that hungry soldiers plundering civilian homes, and robbing pedestrians now. Damage to civilians are so severe that public's anger is boiling. They even compare N. Korean soldies with Imperial Japanese soldeirs on a anti-rebellion operation.
To stem the breakdown of discipline, N. Korean authorities put their military command structure on semi-war footing, and bolster ideological indoctrination. However, it has not yet lead to any substantial improvement.
/end my translation
Ping!
So much for the Songun policy
And through in Chuche for good measure.
Sorry.... "Juche".
"The food shortage is now at its worst since 1995, he gathered. In particular, June and July are the tail end of "Barley Pass"(translator's note: the period when the food stock from last fall harvest runs out but the first harvest of barley(spring crop) is still some time away.) He witness that many now subsist on grass roots and tree barks."
This is an interesting article. I've been under the impression that soldiers were given food by the government. If this report is true, it describes a weak, vulnerable army.
Ripe for defeat? South Korea...... Are you paying attention?
Soldiers are their top priority. However, it appears that they are starving, too.
Mass surrender and defections a la Saddam's army?
Sounds like the timing is right......................
Bless you !
Let's hope the mass desertions turn into mass mutiny.
That is one of the best case scenarios. Collapse of Kim Jong-il regime from within.
Expect this socialist miracle/paradise/superdingdong to invade the world and take over? Wanna buy some flied lice?
An implosion of North Korea would be the best outcome. Kim Jong Il will probably meet the same fate as Ceaucescu - which he deserves fully. Hopefully then the army (north) would have the good sense to tell the South - that's it, it's broke, the DPRK is dead. Still, with the best outcome, the re-integration of East Germany with the rest of Germany will seem like a picnic compared to re-integrating North Korea. The North's economy is a total basket case, plus over a half century of living in Orwell's 1984. At least the Osties had some contact with the West, although still having to look over their shoulders to watch out for the Stasi. I hate to use this term in this case, but the North would need a major re-education (there has to be a better term for this context!)to undo the damage done by the psychos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Communist regimes implode. Russia imploded because of food shortages and information that could not be controlled by the ministry of information. NK will be food. Cuba will be the death of Castro. Vietnam will be economics.
Don't ask about China. I have no clue.
S. Korean need to set up a puppet regime in N. Korea and guide reintegration based on long-term plan. There should be two governments, two economies, and two currencies. The border should be maintained. It may not be easy to do it. However, we should give it a good try. N. Korea should capitalize on its cheap labor to get out of poverty initially.
"Don't ask about China. I have no clue."
China and Vietnam are Communist in name only. There is plenty of free enterprise in both countries.
I'm not sure. The North Korean rank and file might be out of luck, but what about the specialist corps. needed to run WMD attacks? This could be a tricky thing.
Eh. I guess the fall of communism in Eastern Europe was the same way. The collapse of this hell could be a dangerous moment, but Christ speed it anyway.
In the words of Nelson of Simpsons fame..... HA HA!
No.
Do I expect him to try to do South Korea harm if he can, especially if he has nothing left to lose? Yes.
Do I expect that China would give him access to the way to do it? Maybe.
If they could give him four or five nukes that would reach major South Korean cities he could wreck some major havoc. South Korea would win, and in winning would reunite the country. Which would also wreck some major havoc. So many people to care for and they would have to be cared for. They have been well conditioned by the dear leader. It would cripple South Korea for decades.
Quick, send more massive food shipments from the US!
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