“We have the greatest general and the strongest army! That’s why we will defeat the enemy!” This is what I heard every day when I was a soldier in the North Korean military. I saw and experienced hunger, tragic accidents and corrupt officers everywhere.
In 2001, I entered the North Korean army after graduating from college. At that time, I thought I would be a hero due to the regime’s propaganda. However, my company’s soldiers seemed like they homeless people. Their clothing was old and tattered. The company barracks were like an ancient hut from a history documentary.