The Sinuiju Aviation Club has unexpectedly moved up its annual parachute drills by ten days, sparking speculation among locals that it is linked to North Korea’s recent hostile actions toward South Korea. The early start of the drills on Oct. 13, normally scheduled after the rice harvest, has disrupted local travel routes through downtown Sinuiju.
According to a source in North Pyongan province recently, the drills are being held under the motto “Training for Rapid Response.” The drills have three main objectives: to improve the ability of civilians to quickly infiltrate and control the ground using aircraft; to teach the public control and response protocols when land routes are cut off in a crisis; and to assess the ability of civil defense forces to conduct combined air and ground operations.
“People say that the accelerated schedule of this year’s drills is related to recent developments. When they hear the roar of helicopters overhead and see parachutes descending from the sky, their stomachs get twisted into knots,” the source said.
In recent days, North Korea has focused on stoking public hostility toward South Korea by claiming that South Korean drones have infiltrated Pyongyang’s airspace and dropped propaganda leaflets. Building on this, North Korean media also reported the detonation of road links with the South, signifying a complete rupture in inter-Korean relations.
“This is an inevitable and legitimate measure taken in accordance with the requirement of the DPRK Constitution, which clearly defines the ROK as an enemy state, and due to the grave security situation, which has reached the unpredictable brink of war due to the grave political and military provocations of the enemy forces,” the Korean Central News Agency said in a report.
Some speculate drills related to recent inter-Korean tensions
With tensions running high between the two sides, North Koreans are concerned about the parachute drills being held so soon, the source said.
“People are worried about the accelerated schedule of the drills combined with wild rumors of war circulating in the city. While people are fairly certain that this will come to nothing, they can’t help but be disturbed by the thought that someone is actually planning to wage war,” the source said.
While some wary citizens attach unusual significance to the parachute drills being held so early, others believe the regime is deliberately ratcheting up tensions to solidify internal cohesion and bolster public confidence, which has been battered by economic woes and devastating floods this summer.
“There are also some who think the government is putting on a show to keep people occupied,” the source said.
The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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October 24, 2024 at 05:30AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)