north korean soldier deserts amid harassment and abuse allegations
A North Korean soldier decided to escape from the military. According to media reports, a serviceman named Kim was harassed and beaten by his senior colleagues, all because he was unable to deliver a carton of cigarettes.
A North Korean soldier, in his third year with the Corps Communication Company stationed in Haeju, South Hwanghae Province, deserted due to continuous beatings and harassment from senior soldiers, as reported by "Daily North Korea." The serviceman named Kim was unable to fulfill his superior's demands to deliver a carton of cigarettes and thus became a target for bullying. His family was in a difficult financial situation, and he was reluctant to ask them for help.
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The unit commander encouraged other senior soldiers to bully Kim and force him to perform various simple tasks, including laundry. If Kim showed even the slightest delay, the senior soldiers did not hesitate to beat and attack him. On March 13 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time, he was assigned to repair broken communication lines. He took advantage of a moment of inattention and deserted from his unit.
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Kim disappeared with a weapon, which triggered an internal alert. Officers are attempting to find him without informing their superiors to avoid consequences. "There is an atmosphere where new soldiers must endure beatings and harassment. But we're not talking about a new recruit here. This is a 20-year-old third-year soldier; no one would endure such harsh treatment," says a source in an interview with "Daily North Korea."
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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 is that if parents do not provide support throughout the entire military service, their children will suffer in the military due to all kinds of difficulties," the source adds.
Desertion due to harassment from superiors is repeating itself once again. Someone should address issues like violence and harassment in the military, says an anonymous source to "Daily North Korea."
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