Multiple South Korean media reports say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the execution of 30 officials for allegedly failing to prevent devastating floods and landslides that have reportedly caused the deaths of nearly 1,000 people. According to a South Korean report Chosun TVCiting a North Korean official, Kim Jong Un called for “severe punishment” for those responsible for the “unacceptable damage” caused by recent floods. The officials were also accused of corruption and dereliction of duty. The executions reportedly took place late last month.
“It has been learnt that 20 to 30 terrorists were killed at one go at the end of last month in the flood-affected area,” the official was quoted as saying.
Although the identities of the killed officials have been kept secret, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kang Bong-hoon, secretary of the Chagang Province provincial party committee since 2019, was among the leaders removed from their posts by Kim Jong-un.
In July, heavy rains caused landslides and floods in North Korea, affecting more than 4,000 homes and displacing 15,000 residents. Kim Jong Un personally visited the affected areas and said it would take several months to rebuild and restore areas completely submerged by the floods. The government also sheltered 15,400 people in Pyongyang, including vulnerable groups such as mothers, children, the elderly and disabled soldiers.
However, the North Korean leader denied reports of large numbers of deaths in the floods and called these claims “false rumours”. He accused South Korea of deliberately spreading these rumours as part of a “smear campaign” to damage North Korea’s international reputation.
“Even though there was recent flood damage, they were still dismissed for social security reasons, and officials themselves are so anxious that they don’t know when they will be cut off,” commented Lee Il-gyu, a former North Korean diplomat at the International Korean Peninsula Forum.
according to The Korea TimesPublic executions in North Korea have increased dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, the country typically carried out around 10 public executions each year. However, this number has increased to around 100 annual public executions, representing a tenfold increase.
