조선인민군 충원정책의 변화와 정체성 형성(1948~1950)

Abstract

Examined in this article is the North Korean policy of mobilizing troops during the time between 1948 when the People’s army was first born, and early 1950s, when the Korean war broke out and continued. Also, the meaning of such policy is evaluated here as well.BR As it was widely believed by scholars that the Korean war was started by North Korea, the mobilization process of the North Korean army was never fully examined. But if we consider the simple fact that a functioning military could only be sustained and expanded upon a socio-economic platform already in place, it becomes clear that an understanding of the North Korean troop mobilization policy would allow us to look inside the North Korean society at the time of its moving into war.BR In order to swiftly mobilize troops, the North Korean authorities first reorganized the military service system. The basic principle of maintaining a ‘volunteer’ system was kept intact, but elements of a ‘conscription(drafting)’ system were also grafted upon it. The authorities surveyed possible candidates’ whereabouts and numbers, and then performed ‘mobilization tests,’ in order to select and manage candidates suited for the service. Also, in order to minimize the economic loss of the families who had members mobilized for military service, and create an atmosphere which was not against or hostile to constant mobilization of troops, military aiding projects also went underway. Political education and mental training was also reinforced, in order to respond to or even prevent possible emergences of anti-regime voices or factions within the military.BR In the meantime, large scale mobilization of military troops could have caused severe drop in overall state production, as North Korea had already been suffering from chronic shortage of workforce. In response to this problem, the North Korean leadership newly defined the identity of the North Korean army, which was redesigned as a unit that would politically enlighten the North Korean youths, and train them to learn skills and attitude necessary for productive labor.