Conscription in North Korea

Children of the political elites are exempt from conscription, as are people with bad songbun (ascribed social status in North Korea).

Recruitment is done on the basis of annual targets drawn up by the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea and implemented locally by schools.

The draft helped to rapidly grow the size of the Korean People's Army (KPA) before the war broke out in 1950.

[5] In 2003, North Korea claimed to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that all military enlistment in the country is on a voluntary basis.

Some positive incentives still exist, as military training invariably increases the draftee's chances of employment after service.

[4][5] The physical examination ensures that draftees meet the requirement of being at least 148 cm tall and weighing 43 kg, although exceptions are made.

[4] Skilled workers, technicians, members of some government organizations,[4] and children of political and military notables are often excluded from conscription.

Drills often take place during nighttime, and repetitiveness is in part due to the low-tech nature of the force, but also to bring performance up to a standard.

The training methods are effective, and produce a fighting force that is, according to James Minnich, "well versed in the basics even under adverse conditions".

Service personnel are not allowed to marry, so conscripts typically stay single until they turn 30, in order that they would finish their Worker's Party admission process.