
Recently, it has been reported that the number of residents receiving death notifications of sons sent to special forces in North Korea has been increasing.
According to an internal North Korean source in NK Times on the 26th, the number of residents receiving death notifications of sons who served in the military in Pyongyang, Yanggang-do, and North Hamgyong Province has been increasing this month.
In particular, the units to which the sons of residents receiving death notifications belong are said to be special forces such as the ‘Storm Corps’ or the ‘Deep Reconnaissance Corps’. It has been reported that death notifications are being delivered to the families of the deceased soldiers through personal phone calls or local party committees.
In addition, it has been reported that the North Korean military authorities are calling the families of the deceased soldiers to the relevant units and giving them ‘martyrdom certificates’ saying, “Your son died sacredly in the holy war to defend the fatherland. The fatherland and the soldiers of the unit will remember him forever.” They are also holding condolence gatherings.
However, it is said that the units in question only answered ‘simple accident’ when asked by residents about the cause of the son’s death, and they have remained silent about the specific cause of death. It seems to be an attempt to cover up the sense of loss or dissatisfaction that residents who have lost their children may feel.
A source said, “We hear about the death of a son who went to the military in the neighborhood maybe once a year,” and “But recently, we have been hearing about residents here and there receiving notice of the death of their son who went to the military.”
The source continued, “Recently, more than 20 residents in Pyongyang, Chongjin, Hyesan, etc. have received death notifications for their sons who enlisted in the military,” and “Since they received ‘martyr’s certificates’ that mean they gave their lives for their country and people, rather than ordinary death notifications, many residents have collapsed and have not been able to get up for more than two weeks without being able to protest.”
North Korea defines those who sacrificed their lives while fighting for the liberation of the country, the construction of socialism, and the unification of the country as patriotic martyrs. In particular, it has been reported that when soldiers die during military service, the North Korean military authorities comfort their families or evaluate their achievements by issuing general death notifications or ‘war death certificates’ or ‘martyr’s certificates’ depending on the circumstances and circumstances of their deaths.
Considering this situation, it is highly likely that the ‘martyr’s certificates’ that the North Korean military authorities have currently handed over to the families of the deceased soldiers are special forces soldiers deployed to Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian media RBC reported on the 23rd that 500 North Korean soldiers were killed and 3 were injured when the Kursk was attacked by Ukrainian-made British-made air-to-ground cruise missiles called Storm Shadow on the 20th.
***This article is a translation by Google, so the content may differ from the Korean article.