＜N. Korea Floods＞Officials Taking Lead in Recovery Work, Anxious About Being Watched by Residents; Some Officials Punished for Drinking Alcohol

Reconstruction work continues on damage caused by heavy rains that hit the northern region of North Korea in late July. The Kim Jong-un regime has ordered the work to be completed by October 10, the anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party. Local officials are under intense pressure, unable to leave the site day or night, and enduring harsh days. Some low-ranking party officials have been punished with forced labor for dereliction of duty. (ISHIMARU Jiro / KANG Ji-won)

◆Officials under Surveillance by Residents

"Officials are working like laborers at the reconstruction sites. You don't see pot-bellied officials anymore," said reporting partner A, who lives in Ryanggang Province, reporting this "anomaly" among officials in late August. A "pot-bellied official" refers to those who arrogantly give orders without doing any work.

A continued: "Officials can't leave the reconstruction sites. By order of the Central Committee, every move of the officials is to be investigated and reported to ensure that they are working responsibly on the ground. For this reason, party officials in Ryanggang Province are making surprise visits to the reconstruction sites to constantly check whether the officials are working properly. They're also listening to reports from mobilized workers and local residents.”

◆Officials Anxious about Punishment

It's clear that officials are intimidated by the fear of punishment, but this tension among officials has continued since early August.
After inspecting Sinuiju, which was hit by heavy rains in late July, Kim Jong-un declared that officials would be "severely punished" for dereliction of duty and inadequate initial response, stating that "unacceptable loss of life has occurred." The Korean Central News Agency also reported that the minister of social security (equivalent to the police chief) had been dismissed. In this grim atmosphere, nervous officials are taking the initiative to participate in fieldwork.
In Ryanggang Province, some residents who lost their homes in the floods have been evacuated to Pyongyang on Kim Jong-un's orders, and A said that the regime is demanding that all these evacuees move into newly built houses by the party's founding anniversary. This must be putting a lot of pressure on officials.

＜Inside North Korea＞Evacuation of Flood Victims to Pyongyang Seen as 'Show' - Backlash Against Delayed Recovery and Unfairness - People Prioritize Belongings Over Portraits...

◆Officials Punished with Field labor for Drinking Alcohol

On September 4, South Korea's National Intelligence Service announced that 20 to 30 officials may have been executed for their responsibility in the flood disaster. Among them was Kang Bong-hun, the highest-ranking official of the Jagang Province Party Committee.

When this news was relayed to reporting partner B in Musan County, North Hamgyong Province, and he was asked about related news, he replied: "I don't know much about other areas and haven't heard any information about officials being executed [in connection with the reconstruction work], but at the Musan Mine, a low-ranking official who was considered negligent in his duties received revolutionary punishment."

Revolutionary punishment is a form of discipline for officials who violate organizational rules by forcing them to work in the field for a certain period of time.

"The cell secretary (the lowest-level leader of the party organization) and the foreman of the ore processing plant of the Musan Mine received 2-3 months of revolutionary punishment for drinking alcohol during the mobilization period, failing to perform their duties properly and verbally abusing the workers. They are now at the reconstruction site working alongside the ordinary workers."

◆Distribution of Russian Flour

When asked about the current reconstruction situation in Musan County, B replied: "All other construction has been halted and everyone is mobilized for flood recovery, but it will be difficult to finish by October 10. On the road from Musan to Hoeryong, there are still places where vehicles can't pass because of collapsed bridges. There were orders to build temporary bridges, but they've only put gravel in the river. They're cracking down on the unauthorized departure of people mobilized for reconstruction work."

According to B, workers mobilized from the Musan mine received 15 kilograms of Russian flour per person in August, and other factories and enterprises also distributed over 10 kilograms.

"There was food aid from Russia. Thanks to it, people aren't starving, but everyone is just getting by because they also need side dishes and firewood."

ASIAPRESS could not confirm whether the distributed flour was provided free of charge from Russia.

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