North Korean State Councilor Kim Jong-un recently gave his sister Kim Yo-jung the power to inspect the rear agencies of the army at any time, according to reports. Previously responsible for work with South Korea and the United States, her influence now extends to the military.
On November 26, Pyongyang sources in Daily NK disclosed that the North Korean authorities gave the contents of a conversation between Kim Jong-un and the staff of the Party Central Committee to the commanders of the core departments of the administrative, political, operational, defense and rear areas of each military corps and command on November 11.
The sources mainly mentions that Kim Jong-un gave Kim Yo-jung the right to inspect the facilities of the People's Army barracks, food, clothing, fuel and other rear and combat ready materials at any time, and the reason was stated in the instruction.
It also stated that the instruction text referred to what happened on November 8, explaining the background of the authority given to Kim Yo-jung to inspect the rear. Kim Jong-un discussed the current situation regarding the military with several Party Central Committee cadres that day, including Kim Yo-jung, Party Organization Secretary Cho Yong-won, and Oh Il-jung, head of the Party's Military and Political Guidance Department.
The content mentions that there are currently widespread soldiers who have gone home due to nutritional disorders or medical treatment within the army, and almost every squadron has two or three deserters. The brigade commander, brigadier, squadron commander, secretary in charge of food, and secretary in charge of clothing misappropriated logistic supplies to enrich themselves and make false accounts, etc.
When Kim Jong-un asked the participants if the troops are currently able to defeat South Korea in one breath. Lee Byung-chul, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and first vice minister of the Central Committee, said "yes"; however, Cho Yong-won said that the troops are currently lacking logistical supplies and many soldiers are suffering from nutritional disorders and are unable to participate in the war. Kim Jong-un and Kim Yo-Jung also agreed with Cho Yong-won's opinion. The source said that after the conversation was given in the form of an emergency instruction, the troops did not know when Kim or related members would come to inspect them, so they were ready to do winter training. If the inspection reveals that they are not ready for battle, they will have to take off their uniforms, hence anxiety permeated in the army.
North Korean soldiers taking the opportunity to defect
On August 27, Daily NK cited sources as saying that since last year, the North Korean government has been building barbed wire fences and walls in border areas such as Samsu and Sinpo counties, claiming to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, but in reality to prevent defections.
According to the report, the food for soldiers this year has become even more scarce than last year, making malnutrition more and more serious and causing ordinary soldiers to use the time of construction to try to defect, so officers of the 10th Corps in Yanggang Province, who are majors and above, have been mobilized to participate in the construction of the wall. However, even these officers were said to look were malnourished.
While North Korea is building a border wall to prevent defections, China is also working on a border wall thousands of kilometers south along the Sino-Vietnamese and Sino-Myanmar borders to prevent the Chinese from fleeing.
