Railways Stopped in Northern Region, Continued Power Outages Food Shortages Lead to Increase in Robberies

◆ Infrastructure Paralyzed, Public Order Rapidly Deteriorating

North Korean authorities have acknowledged massive damage in the northwestern regions of Sinuiju and Jagang Province due to heavy rains at the end of July. According to ASIAPRESS investigations, there are also casualties in the northern Ryanggang and North Hamgyong provinces. On August 5, a reporting partner living in Ryanggang Province reported on the situation after the heavy rains, including infrastructure paralysis such as railway suspensions and power outages, as well as rapidly deteriorating security due to difficulties in securing food. The authorities seem unable to take effective measures. (HONG Mari / KANG Ji-won)

◆ Railways Stopped, Muddy Water from Taps, Power Outages...

-- Please tell us specifically about the damage situation in Hyesan city.

It's not as severe as places like Jagang Province (where the damage was serious), but muddy water is coming out of the taps and there's no electricity. Train operations have been suspended due to damaged tracks. As a result, logistics have stopped and prices are rising. There are no people coming out to do business in the markets, and everyone is just worried about how to make a living.

◆ Public Unrest Leads to Frequent Robberies

-- How are people behaving?

People driven to desperation due to lack of food are stealing whatever they can, almost like robbers. The police are armed and detaining people carrying luggage for investigation, suspecting them of being thieves.

In Wiyeon District, the roof of a rowhouse collapsed. When the homeowner was cleaning up, two men came and tried to take things. When the owner shouted at them, they beat him with wooden sticks and ran away without being caught.

In Bocheon County, three men entered a house in broad daylight asking, "Do you have any food to sell?" and then stole the cooking pot - it's just robbery. Everything is in chaos.

◆ Authorities are Rushing to Conduct Recovery Efforts, but...

-- What measures are the authorities taking?

No food has been distributed yet. We heard that the state-run grain shops would distribute rice, but it hasn't happened yet. At Hyesan Mine, they're supposedly distributing three kilograms of corn to each worker, but how are they supposed to live on just that?

※ Grain shops: State-run food stores. They had long become moribund, but resumed operations around 2019. As food trading in markets was banned, dependence on the shops has increased given they are places where people can legally buy food.

-- How are the recovery efforts going?

There were orders to strengthen flood recovery support efforts, and officials, as well as regulatory agencies, are all mobilized to focus on recovery work. Especially in rural areas, the people's committee (local government) seems so busy to directly report all field damage situations to the central government. They're taking photos and tallying up the damage.
Separately, officials are demanding that each household in the people's units voluntarily contribute 3,000 won each. But no one is paying. Employees at enterprises are being mobilized for levee repair work, but without cement, they're just piling up stones. It's obvious they will collapse again after being done this way.

※ 1,000 North Korean won is about 102 South Korean won.

※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea