To cope with the prevailing grave situation, our Party demonstrated, with the solemn launching of ICBM Hwasongpho-17, the practical will of action to use powerful physical force to exercise strict control over the enemies who are driving the tension and confrontation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of explosion, resorting to their reckless military threats.

The young vanguard, fully armed with the indomitable will of the Party to deal with the enemies and to settle accounts with the U.S., have turned out at once in the struggle to defend the country and annihilate the enemy.

According to a tally, more than 800,000 youth league officials and students across the country volunteered to join and rejoin the Korean People's Army (KPA) on March 17 alone.

The soaring enthusiasm of young people to join the army is a demonstration of the unshakable will of the younger generation to mercilessly wipe out the war maniacs making last-ditch efforts to eliminate our precious socialist country, and achieve the great cause of national reunification without fail and a clear manifestation of their ardent patriotism.

Youths and students in Pyongyang and other parts of the country held meetings to volunteer for military service, where they decided to join and rejoin the army with a will to annihilate the war maniacs to the last.

The commanding officers and members of the Paektusan Hero Youth Shock Brigade and many other working youths made a request for allowing them to take the lead in a great war for national reunification with the spirit of beating down at a single blow the warmongers who are running amuck.

Many students from Kim Il Sung University, Kim Chaek University of Technology, Hamhung University of Chemical Engineering and all other universities vowed to reliably defend our idea, system and beloved country.

The number of young people volunteering to join and rejoin the KPA is on a steady increase across the country.