{"id":2753,"date":"2016-09-27T13:59:35","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T04:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang-2\/2016\/09\/report\/20160927-nk-korea-flood-damage-nuclear-test\/"},"modified":"2021-07-13T15:07:07","modified_gmt":"2021-07-13T06:07:07","slug":"20160927-nk-korea-flood-damage-nuclear-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2016\/09\/news\/20160927-nk-korea-flood-damage-nuclear-test\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInterview with N.Korean\uff1e Nuclear Test shattered Windows & People Forced to pay for Flood Damage"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a>

A whole village disappeared under a landslide. Quoted from \u201cNae Nara (My country),\u201d a propaganda outlet of North Korea<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

2016\/Sept\/27<\/em><\/p>\n

North Korea\u2019s sabre rattling continues to heighten tensions in the region. While missile launches and nuclear tests stoke international fears of North Korean aggression, domestically they are claimed as achievements of the leadership and used for propaganda purposes. Despite these successes, North Korean authorities are beefing up internal security and appear focused on regime stability. The North Korean people meanwhile, appear indifferent to the government\u2019s efforts, expressing discontent at state shortcomings.<\/p>\n

In mid September, ASIAPRESS discussed these matters with two North Koreans living in the northern border area. The first interview was with a resident near the Sino-North Korean border in Yanggang Province. (Kang Ji-won\/Paek Chang-ryong)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/strong> \u201c<\/strong>I felt a strong tremble, and cracks ran along the sides of buildings\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reporter: Did you feel anything around the time of the nuclear test on September 9?<\/p>\n

Resident: Several apartments 1km away from my house had cracks in the walls and broken windows. People said that things were shaking as though a train was going by. Some people at the market place said they felt the earth quake; others don\u2019t remember such things. I didn\u2019t feel anything, which may be due to the fact that I live in a bungalow.<\/p>\n

Reporter: How does the government let people know about successful missile launches, submarine launches*, and nuclear tests?<\/p>\n

Resident: Well, it\u2019s as propaganda (as tribute to the leader\u2019s greatness). Local congregations are arranged for the purpose of informing the people that General (Kim Jong-un) has developed this weaponry. The nuclear test is a warning to enemies not to provoke. But it doesn\u2019t matter to us whether we have nukes or not.<\/p>\n

*The North Korean media claims that the country has a powerful strategic submarine-based ballistic missile, developed under the direct guidance and instruction of Comrade Kim Jong-un
\nRelated Article: Enormous Flood Damage at Tumen River Basin, Outcry over No Relief Efforts by Government<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>

Few trees can be seen on the peak of a mountain in Musan County. In this area the flood damage was severe. Excessive forest clearing exacerbated the damage. Taken by ASIAPRESS on May 2010<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Reporter: What are your thoughts on the nuclear bomb?<\/p>\n

Resident: Here (North Korea), we say, \u201cNukes can break the earth.\u201d This is one of General Kim Jong-il\u2019s sayings and has been repeated at local meetings since. People also often say, \u201cThe earth can\u2019t exist without North Korea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reporter: Is that what happens? Do the nukes break the earth?<\/p>\n

Resident: We don\u2019t know. We know about the missile launches because they publish photos after it happens, but what do we actually know about the nuclear tests? We are just told: \u201cIt succeeded\u2019\u201d or \u201cIt was powerful.\u201d We don\u2019t really care whether they launch missiles or not. We care more about making a living. People ask, \u201cIf they can spend so much on nuclear tests and missiles launches why don\u2019t they distribute rations?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>

Photo of propaganda with the explanation: The unity of the people and soldiers are absorbed in restoration work. From Rodong Shinmun on September 18.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/strong>Local government collects CNY50 per a household following flood damage <\/strong><\/p>\n

Reporter: Do you know about the flood damage in North Hamkyung Province?<\/p>\n

Resident: Yes. Rumor has it that many people died along the Tumen river basin. I\u2019ve heard that in China they were picking corpses out of the river and later returned them to North Korea. Many people are still missing. Others have lost their homes; swept away in the flood. This happens every year. The rainy season brings death and destruction.
\nRelated Article: People believe that the sanction should hit hard on Kim Jong-un and the high ranks, but inevitably it is hitting on people\u2019s lives as well\u2026\u2026<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Reporter: Is the North Hamkyung Province government asking for anything to help with the flood damage?<\/p>\n

Resident: They\u2019ve made several demands of the people. It most likely differs from village to village, but in our region the local authorities were demanding CNY50 per household. That amount may not be a big deal for party officials and rich people, but ordinary people are feeling the pinch. CNY50 is enough to get you more than a 10 kg bag of rice. If I had enough money, I\u2019d be willing to help. But these demands make things really tough.<\/p>\n

\u203b ASIAPRESS uses China-based phones to contact ASIAPRESS reporting partners inside North Korea.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u3010Related Article\u3011<\/strong>
\n\u25c6 Ordinary N.Koreans have, \u201cNo Interest\u201d and \u201cNo Expectations\u201d about the Worker`s Party Congress -Only Hope Is \u201cOpening up N.Korea\u201d<\/a><\/span>
\n\u25c6 \uff1cInside N.Korea\uff1e Hunt for defectors resumed<\/a><\/span>
\n\u25c6 \uff1cInterview with N.Korean People\uff1e Defection of Thae Yong-ho, the minister at NK mission in London, is \u201cnatural\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"rimjingang_banner001\"<\/a>* Editor\u2019s notes on North Korean reporters<\/a><\/a> <\/strong><\/span>
\nARCHIVE(pdf) >><\/a><\/span>
\n DPRK MAP >><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  2016\/Sept\/27 North Korea\u2019s sabre rattling continues to heighten tensions in the region. While missile launches an\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[7,11,12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2753"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2753\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}