A/HRC/25/CRP.1 337. Discrimination impacts not only the designation of profession but also professional development and advancement. Songbun has also been a limiting factor for DPRK nationals who seek to progress in their careers.409 • For example, Mr Jang hae-sung, a former DPRK journalist, testified at the Seoul Public Hearing: “I am a person of good songbun, good class in North Korea. My grandfather was also involved in anti-Japanese activities. And two of my father’s siblings died during the Korean War so I was one of those really privileged, high class, high songbun. But I’m from China, but if I was not born in China, if I was born in North Korea, then I could have been able to work in the core institutions, but because I was born in China, I was not able to work [for the] BoAnBu or Bowibu [MPS or SSD]. That is why I had to work in the press.”410 338. Military service is compulsory for all males in the DPRK, but those with low songbun or a disability are not able to serve. In the past, citizens wished to serve in the military for career purposes. However, since the 1990s, the military has been less attractive due to the risk of malnutrition, and many people actually attempt to escape conscription at great risk. Nevertheless, military service is a key way for securing a position as an official. Most citizens enter the military for 10 to 13 years, although children of high-ranking officials appear to only need to serve for three years before they are eligible for Party membership or enrolment into university. According to first-hand information received by the Commission, professional advancement for officials requires four credentials: military service, membership of the Workers’ Party of Korea, university qualification and high songbun. Without all four qualifications, an individual would have limited chances of becoming a high-ranking official whether in the party, military or government. These qualifications are particularly important for jobs in the security bureau, foreign service and economic bureau.411 339. In 2012, the Supreme People’s Assembly extended compulsory education to 12 years from 11 years, promised more classrooms and said that teachers would be given priority in the distribution of food and fuel rations, according to the DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency.412 Despite the DPRK’s commitment to universal provision of education,413 access is hindered for some by systemic discrimination. Because of the collapse of the DPRK economy, students are generally required to provide resources to fund teachers and school operations.414 • Mr Charles Jenkins, who lived in the DPRK for over 39 years, told of goods that his two daughters were asked to bring to school: “[T]he girls were always coming to me saying that school officials had requested a certain amount of supplies from every student’s family. Sometimes they would say their teachers told them they needed to bring in 2 kilograms of brass each by Monday. Or a kilogram of lead. Or a hundred meters of copper wire. They asked for coal, gasoline, even rabbit skins.” These specific requests were in addition to the 60 kilograms of corn that he had to send every month to the school. “That’s 2.2 pounds per daughter every day, even 409 410 411 412 413 414 According to TAP001, most people who came from Japan were highly-educated and able to get jobs but would still not get high level positions. Seoul Public Hearing, 22 August 2013, afternoon (00:46:31). TAP011, TLC007. Choe Sang-hun, “North Korea’s Leaders Promise Improvements to Educational System”, New York Times, 25 September 2012. CRC/C/PRK/4, paras. 174-176; A/HRC/WG.6/6/PRK/1, para. 59. TBG030. 95