The price for fake tuberculosis certificate to avoid conscription jumps fivefold

Some North Korean families are paying up to US 0 to keep their boys from deployment in the Ukraine-Russia war. The certificate means a one-year deferral, but checks could be carried out every three months. Ukraine reports that some 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in combat so far.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The cost of fake tuberculosis certificates rose fivefold in North Korea. Many families are turning to this ruse to stop their sons from being sent to Russia to fight against Ukraine, this according to some North Koreans who spoke to Radio Free Asia.

Although neither Russian nor North Korean media have reported this, it seems that news has begun to percolate back to North Korea.

“Until last year, most medical certificates for military exemption cost around US 0,” a resident of the northern province of Ryanggang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity. Now “the price of a tuberculosis certificate has risen to 0, making it difficult for residents who are eligible for military service to afford it.”

The World Health Organisation considers North Korea a high-risk country for tuberculosis, with 135,000 cases in 2023 alone, or 513 cases per 100,000 residents.

In North Korea, men serve in the military for 10 years, starting at 17, while women serve for seven. With a tuberculosis certificate, one can avoid compulsory military service for one year, until the next check-up.

Sources told RFA that some local authorities are now considering conducting TB tests every three months instead of once a year to reduce the trade in fake certificates.

For ordinary North Korean families, US0 are already a hefty price, as monthly salary wages range from 5,000 to 10,000 won, or 1 to 3 dollars.

Military service goes beyond military training, and includes a variety of jobs on farms and construction sites and other government projects.

According to information released by US and South Korean intelligence source, almost 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an offensive in August 2024.

North Korea is now believed to be preparing to send more, South Korea’s military reported last week. According to Ukrainian sources, about 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been wounded or killed so far.

“With about four months passing since North Korea’s deployment to the Russia-Ukraine war, it is presumed that follow-up measures and preparations for additional deployment are being accelerated due to the occurrence of many casualties and prisoners of war,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed earlier this month that North Korean troops have been redeployed following heavy losses inflicted by the Ukrainian military. In some cases, North Korean soldiers blew themselves up with a grenade to avoid capture, CNN reported.

While North Koreans are "all young, trained and hardy fighters", they have proven so far unprepared for modern drone warfare, a Ukrainian commander said.

They operate quite independently of the Russian army, going first, with Russian soldiers coming later to consolidate the position, others explained.

According to some estimates, North Korea sent weapons, including ballistic missiles, worth US$ 5.5 billion to Russia in exchange for oil and could gain additional revenue if it sends several thousand more troops (even up to 20,000, according to some sources) in the coming months.

North Korea’s military is thought to consist of 1.2 million people on active duty.

• north korea
• ukraine
• russia
• war
• soldiers
• tuberculosis
• certificates
• draft dodgers