According to a North Korean TV Chosun, North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un has reportedly ordered for the execution of about 30 officials. This capital punishment was as a result of their failure to manage severe flooding which claimed the lives of 4,000 citizens this summer.
The officials were charged with corruption and neglect of duty, leading to the death penalty which took place in August.
The North Korean Central News Agency earlier reported that Kim demanded harsh penalties for the officials after devastating floods hit the Chagang Province in July causing about 4,000 deaths and displacing over 15,000 people.
“it has been determined that 20-30 cadres in the flood-stricken area were executed at the same time late last month,” an official reported.
Although the executed officials were not named, it is confirmed that Kang Bong-goon, Secretary of the Chagang Province Provincial Party Committee since 2019, was among those dismissed in an emergency meeting held during the disaster. Former North Korean diplomat, Lee II-gyu informed the media that officials in the province were ”so anxious that they don’t know when their necks will fall off.” There had been other incidents in which the Korean leader had ordered the executions over reported failures. In 2019, North Korea’s nuclear envoy to the United States, Kim Hyok Chol was allegedly executed following his failure to secure a summit between Kim and the then-US President, Donald Trump.
Kim visited the affected areas last month and met with the residents. The extent of the damages were assessed and rebuilding was estimated to take several months. He also dismissed reports which exaggerated the death toll.
