Attitudes toward border guard service in North Korea have shifted dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Soldiers once welcomed the posting because bribes from smuggling made service financially rewarding. Today, however, conditions have deteriorated so badly that families now avoid the assignment entirely.
According to a source in Ryanggang province, life for border guard troops in Hyesan has changed completely. Before the pandemic, soldiers maintained healthy appearances and generally looked well cared for. Now, malnutrition and exhaustion define daily life within these units instead.
Historically, the border guard attracted both cadre children and ordinary families alike. Training remained lighter than standard army service, and financial opportunities made the posting genuinely desirable. Many soldiers reportedly saved over 50,000 yuan, roughly $7,380, during their service. Consequently, they returned home with appliances like refrigerators and televisions.
Pandemic-era restrictions, though, shut down individual smuggling and eliminated that income stream. Guard shifts grew more frequent, workloads increased, and meals worsened considerably. Soldiers who once enjoyed varied side dishes now eat plain corn with minimal seasoning. Meanwhile, soup served today resembles little more than salted water.
This year’s spring conscription reportedly included no cadre children within border guard ranks. Instead, recruits came almost entirely from working-class and farming families, according to the source. Furthermore, some parents now pay bribes specifically to avoid this posting altogether. Previously, families paid to secure spots; today, they pay to escape them.
Officials within the Military Mobilization Department reportedly acknowledge that the border guard’s appeal has faded. Recovery seems unlikely, the source suggested, unless smuggling opportunities return to previous levels. Given nearly decade-long service terms, families increasingly prioritize units offering better daily conditions.
This shift illustrates how economic controls ripple through North Korea’s military assignment system. As smuggling income disappears, previously coveted postings can quickly lose their appeal.
