After a North Korean army officer threatened his superior with a weapon and another attempted suicide when higher-ranking officers ignored his pleas for help, the country’s politburo is taking steps to stem what leaders fear may be a rising trend of insubordination within the military.

In the last three months of 2021, as many as 10 soldiers have violently confronted their superiors nationwide, a military official from the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told RFA Dec. 20.

“At the end of November, a company-level officer of the 45^th Division under the 9^th Corps asked several times to his superior battalion to let him help solve a family issue and take care of his own personal health issue, but when he was ignored, he confronted his superior with a weapon while he was drunk,” said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons.

“Even earlier this month, in a unit under the 3^rd Corps, a company-level officer had a personal problem and appealed to a superior to help solve it,” the source said. “But when the senior officer ignored it, the company-level officer attempted to kill himself with a communication cable around his neck. This incident is embarrassing for the senior unit commanders.”

Read more at RFA

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