Kim Jong Un orders North Korean troops to prepare for ‘real war’
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on his armed forces to prepare “for real war” at a military artillery contest held on July 23. The Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim urging troops to be combat-ready “at any time,” and capable of “destroying the enemy in every battle.”
Footage from Korea Central Television on July 24 showed Kim overseeing live-fire artillery drills from an observation post, accompanied by military officials. Though the exact location was not disclosed, the display is being viewed as a strong message of military readiness.
Kim’s comments come on the heels of increased military cooperation with Russia, including sending weapons and troops to support Moscow’s prolonged offensive in Ukraine.
This renewed show of force raises broader questions about global military strength and preparedness. Although there are many ways to measure a nation’s military force and capacity, one method to evaluate a nation’s ability to effectively engage in warfare is literally by counting the number of active military personnel. A nation’s military is considered one of its most valuable assets in enforcing both domestic and foreign policy.
Which 20 nations have the largest numbers of active military personnel in the world? Click on to find out.
20. Colombia
The country with the 20th highest number of active military personnel in the world is Colombia. Military service is mandatory for men aged between 18 and 24 years old, typically serving a minimum of 18 months.
Service periods
There are differentiating rules in terms of service length. Those who complete secondary education are only required to serve 12 months. "Peasant soldiers," meaning those who complete military service in their own local, rural areas, serve up to 18 months.
18. France
The country with the 18th-highest number of active military personnel in the world is France. There is no mandatory military service in France; the practice ended in 2001. France has 270,000 active military personnel, 63,700 military reserve personnel, and 141,050 paramilitary personnel.
Education
Every school child is required to complete their final year of education at the Sawa military camp, which, according to Amnesty International, amounts to a conscripting program. Eritrea has 301,750 active military personnel. There is no data available regarding military reserve or paramilitary personnel.
Shorter training period
For those who can afford it, it's possible to pay a fee to be eligible for a much shorter training period, amounting to 28 days. Turkey has 355,200 active military personnel, 378,700 military reserve personnel, and 158,800 paramilitary personnel.
Lottery process
In the lottery process, drawing a red card indicates mandatory service, while drawing a black card indicates exemption. Thailand has 360,850 active military personnel, 200,000 military reserve personnel, and 138,700 paramilitary personnel.
Personnel numbers
Women are allowed to serve in the military, but typically only in the Women’s Reserve Corps. Brazil has 366,500 active military personnel, 1,340,000 military reserve personnel, and 395,000 paramilitary personnel.
12. Egypt
The country with the 12th-most active military personnel in the world is Egypt. Military service is mandatory for men aged 18 to 30. They are typically required to serve a minimum of one year.
11. Vietnam
The nation with the 11th-highest number of active military personnel in the world is Vietnam. Military service is mandatory for males aged between 18 and 25 years old. They are typically required to serve a minimum of 18 months.
10. South Korea
The country with the 10th-most active military personnel in the world is South Korea. Men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to serve in the military for at least 18 months. South Korea has 500,000 active military personnel, 3,100,000 military reserve personnel, and 3,013,500 paramilitary personnel.
8. Iran
The country with the eighth-most active military personnel in the world is Iran. Military service is mandatory for all men once they reach the age of 18. Men typically serve anywhere between 18 and 24 months.
7. Pakistan
The nation with the seventh-most active military personnel in the world is Pakistan. Military service is not mandatory in the country. Pakistan has 660,000 active military personnel, 550,000 military reserve personnel, and 291,000 paramilitary personnel.
Martial law
In periods of martial law, the maximum age has been extended to 60. Ukraine has 800,000 active military personnel, 400,000 military reserve personnel, and 250,000 paramilitary personnel.
4. North Korea
The country with the fourth-most active military personnel in the world is North Korea. Military service is mandatory for both men and women; men serve up to 10 years, while women serve up to seven.
3. United States
The nation with the third-most active military personnel in the world is the United States. The US does not have mandatory military service, but it has instituted military drafts during certain periods. The US has 1,326,050 active military personnel, 806,700 military reserve personnel, while its paramilitary personnel numbers are quite ambiguous and not formally registered.
2. India
The country with the second-highest number of active military personnel in the world is India. The country does not have mandatory military service. India has a total of 1,475,750 active military personnel, 1,155,000 military reserve personnel, and 1,616,050 paramilitary personnel.
