North Korean teen defies mother to join army

A widowed mother in Tanchon, South Hamgyong province, has been pleading with her son's school to prevent him from joining North Korea's 2026 conscription. Despite being eligible for an exemption due to his mother's sole responsibility for the family, the teenage boy is determined to enlist in the Korean People's Army. The school student believes that military service is his only chance to improve his family's situation and lift them out of poverty.

On October 17, the mother visited his school to plead with the homeroom teacher not to bring him for his physical examination, even though he insisted on attending. In North Korea, schools transport students to hospitals for the required physical exams and send military mobilization department officers to handle conscription at various levels.

This is why the concerned mother sought a personal meeting with the school authorities. The boy has met the criteria for an exemption, but he refuses to let his mother's support for the household override his desire to join the military. The teenage boy's decision to reject his military service exemption stems from years of scorn and pity from his neighbors, who regarded him unfavorably due to the absence of his father.

His resentment has hardened his resolve. His mother understands that she will struggle alone after he leaves for the army, but she is determined to change his mind, citing that other students go to great lengths to avoid the draft. Military service for North Korean men can last up to 10 years, meaning a student who enlists right after graduation would spend much of their youth in uniform.

The boy is prepared to serve for as long as it can help him escape his bleak circumstances, while his mother insists that they focus on earning a living now. Despite their shared desire to escape hardship, the mother and son remain locked in a bitter standoff.