North Korea executes officials over flood response failures
North Korea carried out executions of about 30 officials in August for failing to protect the country from catastrophic floods, according to South Korean TV station TV Chosun.
North Korea has been grappling with floods for weeks, which have inundated thousands of homes across the country. The disaster, according to the latest estimates from South Korean media, is believed to have caused the deaths of up to 4,000 people. At the beginning of August, reports indicated about 1,500 victims. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un denied these reports, assuring that the number of casualties was lower.
Meanwhile, South Korean TV Chosun claims that about 30 officials were executed in North Korea, accused of failing to fulfill their duties and not adequately protecting the population from the floods.
The officials were reportedly put on trial by a military tribunal, which is said to have issued death sentences. Among the convicted was Kang Bong-hoon, the party committee secretary in Chagang Province near the border with China.
North Korea: Kim Jong Un responded to the tragedy
During a visit to the devastated areas, Kim Jong Un himself met with residents and stated that reconstruction of the flooded region would take two to three months. He also ordered that over 15,000 people living in the flooded areas be relocated to the capital, Pyongyang.
Executions in North Korea
Executions of officials in North Korea are not uncommon. Although there is a lack of official information on the matter, it is estimated that before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were about 10 executions annually. This number is believed to have risen to as many as 100 per year during the pandemic.
