North Korea Intensifies Political Education for Young Soldiers Exposed to South Korean Culture

North Korea has recently increased the emphasis on political ideology education (education of political ideas) for young soldiers during their winter military training, significantly more than last year.

A source in Nampo, North Korea, reported to SPN Seoul Pyongyang News on the 20th, “Last month, the military unit party committee executives allocated resources for cultural projects through the greatness of Secretary Kim Jong Un, gathering military officers and soldiers at local training grounds and ammunition warehouses for education of political ideas.”

The source said this has been “causing disruptions to military training, and so far, a total of five rounds of internal party cultural and political thought education have been conducted for unit military officers and soldiers.”

The source conveyed, “The reason for the unprecedented strengthening of education of political ideas is to enhance the mental state of young soldiers.”

This trend of political education is not limited to one area but is widespread.

The concern among military authorities is growing because, most recently, enlisted soldiers are part of the Jangmadang generation and have been frequently exposed to South Korean dramas and K-pop.

Following the 8th Party Congress, North Korea has been intensifying the study of the party congress’s ideas and spirit among its citizens.

The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the Workers’ Party of Korea, stated in an article on the 16th titled “The Basic Ideas and Spirit of the 8th Party Congress” that the congress presented clear tasks and methods for advancing socialism to the next stage of victory.

It emphasized that all party members, workers, and laborers must fully understand and implement the basic ideas and spirit of the 8th Party Congress to carry out the party’s combative tasks faithfully.@