Kim Jong Un Executes 30 Officials Over Deadly Floods”/>
NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the execution of up to 30 officials over their alleged failure to prevent massive summer flooding and landslides that killed about 4,000 people, according to South Korean media.
An official under the Kim regime said between 20 and 30 leaders in North Korea have been charged with corruption and dereliction of duty. The country sentenced them to death, TV Chosun reported.
“It has been established that 20 to 30 cadres in the flood-hit areas were executed at the same time late last month,” the official told the outlet, according to the New York Post. The reports of the executions were not immediately verified by independent media.
North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency previously reported that Kim ordered authorities to severely punish officials after devastating floods hit Chagang Province in July, killing about 4,000 people and displacing more than 15,000.
The executed officials were not identified, but the report noted that Kang Bong-hoon, secretary of the Chagang Provincial party committee since 2019, was among the leaders dismissed by Kim in an emergency meeting during the flood disaster.
After the meeting with Kim, former North Korean diplomat Lee Il-gyu told TV Chosun that it was clear officials in the province were so anxious, “that they don’t know when their necks will break.”
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Kim was seen last month inspecting damaged areas and meeting with residents as he predicted it would take months to rebuild flooded neighborhoods. The North Korean leader also slammed South Korean reports of the death toll and denied allegations that thousands were killed.
This is not the first time reports have emerged of Kim ordering officials to be removed for perceived failures. In 2019, the country allegedly executed Kim Hyok Chol, its nuclear envoy to the US, for failing to negotiate a summit between Kim and then-US President Donald Trump.
It was later revealed that Chol was merely in state custody, CNN reported.
North Korea generally has a high rate of public executions, according to the Korea Times, with the country carrying out an average of 10 public executions before the COVID-19 pandemic. The outlet estimates that the rate has spiked with at least 100 executions carried out last year. (Z-2)
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What were the reasons behind Kim Jong Un’s decision to execute officials following the devastating floods in North Korea’s Chagang Province?
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North Korea Executes Officials Over Deadly Floods
A devastating flood that hit North Korea’s Chagang Province in July, killing approximately 4,000 people and displacing over 15,000, has led to the execution of up to 30 high-ranking officials [[3]]. The officials were accused of corruption and dereliction of duty, and were sentenced to death by the country’s authorities [[1]].
According to South Korean media, Kim Jong Un ordered the execution of the officials, holding them responsible for the catastrophic flooding and landslides [[2]]. An official under the Kim regime reported that between 20 and 30 leaders in North Korea were charged with corruption and dereliction of duty, and were subsequently executed [[1]].
The executed officials were not identified, but it was reported that Kang Bong-hoon, secretary of the Chagang Provincial party committee since 2019, was among the leaders dismissed by Kim in an emergency meeting during the flood disaster [[1]]. Former North Korean diplomat Lee Il-gyu stated that officials in the province were anxious, “that they don’t know when their necks will break” [[2]].
North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency previously reported that Kim ordered authorities to severely punish officials after the devastating floods, which hit large areas along the Amnok River in North Korea’s North Pyongan, Jagang, and Ryanggang provinces [[2]]. The North Korean leader was seen inspecting damaged areas and meeting with residents, predicting that it would take months to rebuild flooded neighborhoods [[1]].
Kim also slammed South Korean reports of the death toll and denied allegations that thousands were killed [[1]]. This is not the first time reports have emerged of Kim ordering officials to be removed or punished for various reasons, highlighting the ruthless nature of the North Korean regime.
Seoul is “closely monitoring” signs that North Korea executed several high-ranking officials, with reports of the executions yet to be independently verified [[1]]. The international community remains concerned about the human rights situation in North Korea, and the consequences of the country’s authoritarian rule.
Keywords: North Korea, Kim Jong Un, floods, executions, officials, Chagang Province, South Korea.
Why did Kim Jong Un execute officials following the floods in North Korea?
North Korea Executes Officials Over Deadly Floods
A devastating flood that hit North Korea’s Chagang Province in July, killing approximately 4,000 people and displacing over 15,000, has led to the execution of up to 30 high-ranking officials [[3]]. The officials were accused of corruption and dereliction of duty, and were sentenced to death by the country’s authorities [[1]].
According to South Korean media, Kim Jong Un ordered the execution of the officials, holding them responsible for the catastrophic flooding and landslides [[2]]. An official under the Kim regime reported that between 20 and 30 leaders in North Korea were charged with corruption and dereliction of duty, and were subsequently executed [[1]].
The executed officials were not identified, but it was reported that Kang Bong-hoon, secretary of the Chagang Provincial party committee since 2019, was among the leaders dismissed by Kim in an emergency meeting during the flood disaster [[1]]. Former North Korean diplomat Lee Il-gyu stated that officials in the province were anxious, “that they don’t know when their necks will break” [[2]].
North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency previously reported that Kim ordered authorities to severely punish officials after the devastating floods, which hit large areas along the Amnok River in North Korea’s North Pyongan, Jagang, and Ryanggang provinces [[2]]. The North Korean leader was seen inspecting damaged areas and meeting with residents, predicting that it would take months to rebuild flooded neighborhoods [[1]].
Kim also slammed South Korean reports of the death toll and denied allegations that thousands were killed [[1]]. This is not the first time reports have emerged of Kim ordering officials to be removed for perceived failures. In 2019, the country allegedly executed Kim Hyok Chol, its nuclear envoy to the US, for failing to negotiate a summit between Kim and then-US President Donald Trump.
North Korea generally has a high rate of public executions, according to the Korea Times, with the country carrying out an average of 10 public executions before the COVID-19 pandemic. The outlet estimates that the rate has spiked with at least 100 executions carried out last year.
The reasons behind Kim Jong Un’s decision to execute officials following the devastating floods in North Korea’s Chagang Province are still unclear. However, it is likely that the North Korean leader is trying to maintain control and stability in the country by cracking down on perceived failures and corruption.
The execution of high-ranking officials serves as a warning to others in the country’s leadership, and may be seen as a way to divert attention from the government’s own failures in responding to the floods. The move also underscores the authoritarian nature of the North Korean regime, where those deemed guilty of corruption or dereliction of duty can face severe punishment, including death.