Pyongyang, North Korea

North Korean state media announced on Wednesday (Oct 16) that approximately 1.4 million young people, including students and youth league officials, have applied to join or re-enlist in the military. 

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Committed to 'sacred war' 

According to the state news agency of North Korea, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), these youth are committed to participating in what they call a "sacred war" to destroy the enemy with "the arms of the revolution."

The reported surge in enlistments comes amid escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korea's claim of over one million young applicants to the Korean People's Army within just two days mirrors a similar declaration made last year.

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Also read | North Korea blows up inter-Korean roads and rail lines, escalating tensions with South Korea

According to Reuters, back then, the North Korean regime boasted of its citizens volunteering to fight against the United States.

The KCNA report also included a stark warning: "If a war breaks out, the ROK will be wiped off the map. As it wants a war, we are willing to put an end to its existence."

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Here, ROK refers to South Korea's official name - the Republic of Korea.

Why now?

This comes as tensions between the two Koreas continue to rise. On Tuesday (Oct 15), North Korea took aggressive action by blowing up sections of inter-Korean roads and railways on its side of the fortified border. To this, as per reports, South Korea responded with warning shots.

Also read | Zelensky accuses North Korea of sending troops to aid Russia, calls for more military support from 'partners'

The two nations have also been clashing over a series of provocations, including accusations from Pyongyang that Seoul has sent drones over its capital. The two neighbouring nations have also clashed over balloons filled with trash that have been floating over from North Korea into South Korea since May. North Korea claims that the trash-filled balloons are in retaliation for anti-regime balloons launched from the South.

(With inputs from agencies)