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Military & Defense

Rare photos show life inside North Korea's top-secret military

Nina Godlewski

2016-05-23T13:35:00Z

North Korean military — A North Korean woman and soldiers look at a Chinese tour boat from the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Little is known about North Korea, and maybe even less is known about the country's military.

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And while photos can be instrumental in learning about everyday life in the "hermit kingdom," they can be extremely difficult to get past the border and out of the country.

But a recent Reuters package has a set of rare photos of North Korea's military, ranging from 2006 to 2015, which reveal a snapshot of life as a soldier in North Korea.

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The Korean War began in 1950 when 75,000 soldiers from the North crossed the border and invaded the South.

North Korean military — A test-firing drill of anti-ship missiles. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: History

After the Korean War, North and South Korea were split. The Soviet Union had control of the North and the UN was controlling the South.

North Korean military — A soldier salutes from atop a vehicle carrying a missile past a stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, in Pyongyang. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Source: History

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The Soviet Union put Kim Il Sung in charge of North Korea, which became known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. His son, Kim Jong Il, took over after his death in 1994.

North Korean military — A new multiple launch rocket system is test fired. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: History

Kim Jong Un then took over as the ruler of the country in December 2011, when his father and the former leader, Kim Jong Il, died of a heart attack.

North Korean military — Soldiers shout slogans as they march past a stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other officials. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Source: Bloomberg

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Despite the fact that he is in charge of the fourth-largest military in the world, Kim Jong Un has no formal military training.

North Korean military — North Korean soldiers do push-ups at the banks of the Yalu River, at the North Korean town of Sinuiju. REUTERS/Stringer

Source: IB Times

Seventy percent of ground forces and 50% of air and naval forces are deployed within about 62 miles of the demilitarized no-man's land between North and South Korea as of 2014.

North Korean military — Landing and anti-landing exercises being carried out by the Korean People's Army at an unknown location. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: US Department of Defense

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North Korea's military is called the "Korean People's Army," or the KPA.

RTS3W3D — Senior North Korean military officers follow the performance celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, in Pyongyang. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Today, the North Korean military is composed of more than 1.2 million active soldiers.

North Korean military — Korean People's Army artillery troops conduct a live firing exercise. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: CNN

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And there are another 7.7 million in reserve.

North Korean military — North Korean soldiers salute from atop tanks during a military parade in Pyongyang. REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

Source: CNN

Most people serve in the military after completing high school. Men serve for 10 years and women for seven.

North Korean military — Soldiers shout slogans under the stands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other officials. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Source: The Guardian

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Those who go to college serve for five years after completing their degree.

North Korean military — A missile is fired from a naval vessel during the test-firing of a new type of an anti-ship cruise missile to be equipped at Korean People's Army naval units. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: The Guardian

But those who study science serve for only three years. This was decided by Kim Jong Un in 2015 to encourage people to study science.

North Korean military — Soldiers ride motorcycles past a stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, in Pyongyang October 10, 2015. Isolated North Korea marked the 70th anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party on Saturday with a massive military parade overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, who said his country was ready to fight any war waged by the United States. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Source: The Guardian

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The military is the country's largest employer.

North Korean military — Members of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, the civilian forces of North Korea, shout slogans in an undisclosed location. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: CNN

The North Korean air force is made up of over 1,300 aircraft. The newest plane was obtained in 1999.

North Korean military — A view of artillery fire and landing exercises guided by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: US Department of Defense

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It is believed that the North Korean military has 260 amphibious landing craft in its naval force.

North Korean military — Landing and anti-landing exercises being carried out by the Korean People's Army at an unknown location. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: US Department of Defense

The North Korean missile program began development in the late 1960s, but really began to flourish in the 1970s.

North Korean military — A view of artillery fire and landing exercises guided by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (not seen). REUTERS/KCNA

Source: BBC

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Today, North Korea is thought to be in possession of over 1,000 long-, medium-, and short-range missiles.

North Korean military — Artillery pieces are seen being fired during a military drill at an unknown location. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: BBC

In 2015, it became mandatory for all women to serve in the military.

North Korean military — A North Korean soldier guards an army installation on the banks of the Yalu River at the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong. REUTERS/Reinhard Krause

Source: The Guardian

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Before 2015, women served purely on a voluntary basis.

North Korean military — A North Korean woman and soldiers look at a Chinese tour boat from the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Citizens of North Korea may own a motor vehicle only if they are a military or government official.

North Korean military — North Korean military participate in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang. REUTERS/KCNA

Source: USA Today

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Soldiers in the military face malnourishment and hunger because of a lack of food availability and rigorous training.

North Korean military — A North Korean soldier kicks a goat on the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju. REUTERS/Jacky Chen

Source: NK News

Nuclear tests were conducted within the country in 2006, 2009, and 2013.

North Korean military — A North Korean soldier points his gun at the photographer as he trains on the bank of the Yalu River at the North Korean town of Sinuiju. REUTERS/Adam Dean

Source: US Department of Defense

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North Korea's military is now one of the largest in the world, and the exact details of conditions for soldiers stay under tight wraps. There is likely so much we don't know about the world's fourth-largest military.

North Korean military — A night drill of ground artillery sub-units. REUTERS/KCNA

North Korea Military

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