00:00It's a loss of common sense.
00:01According to sources, there has been ongoing education inside North Korea
00:04that relations with South Korea should be resolved through military conflict.
00:08Recently, there was an all-army education session in North Korea.
00:11Education urging the military to resolve issues with South Korea by force
00:15was reportedly given to all troops, delivered as a message from Kim Jong-un.
00:19North Korean sources say this message was shared during ideological education
00:22conducted across the military at the start of the second summer academic and artistic training cycle.
00:26During the education, statements reportedly made by Kim Jong-un
00:30at the division and brigade commanders' meeting last May were introduced,
00:33and it was emphasized that issues with South Korea must be resolved by force.
00:38Notably, it was explained that, despite external rhetoric about peaceful reunification,
00:42North Korea's internal atmosphere has shifted,
00:44now openly emphasizing the use of military force to resolve issues.
00:47According to Radio Free Asia, Kim Jong-un repeatedly emphasized
00:50that while this does not mean giving up on the unification pursued by previous leaders,
00:54he stated several times that peaceful unification is impossible.
00:57Reportedly, North Korean soldiers are now taught to see inter-Korean relations
01:02as military confrontation rather than peace and cooperation.
01:06In particular, according to Radio Free Asia,
01:09there have been reports that the shock was especially great among young soldiers.
01:12Although North Korean authorities publicly promote peaceful reunification,
01:16they have long stressed combat readiness and military training
01:19in preparation for war within the military.
01:21This time, by directly mentioning an armed conflict with South Korea
01:25instead of just military readiness,
01:27some soldiers felt this was a major change from previous North Korea policy toward the South.
01:32Reports indicate that messages about North Korea's armed reunification
01:36are not being openly shared with the entire population.
01:39North Korean authorities use different language for the public
01:41while first reinforcing an anti-South military confrontation mindset within the military.
01:46The source said North Korean authorities may extend this perception to the general population in the future.
01:53In particular, North Korea has repeatedly brought up the idea of two separate states
01:56and suggested that the two Koreas should live as neighbors.
01:58However, when you look at these statements from North Korea,
02:00it doesn't seem like they've given up on the will to pursue unification.
02:03some wonderful information.
02:03We'll keep going and keep going for another question.
02:05episode 2
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