SEOUL (ANN/STRAITS TIMES) – North Korea has reportedly executed multiple government officials following severe flooding in late July that killed thousands in the country’s northern region, according to a report by South Korea’s TV Chosun.
Between 20 to 30 regional officials from the flood-stricken areas were executed in August, the report said, citing an unnamed South Korean government official. The flooding, which devastated the northern Jagang province, may have claimed thousands of lives, according to the same source.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) is closely monitoring the situation and has received intelligence regarding the developments, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed via phone, but declined to provide further details. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which manages relations with the North, declined to comment on the matter.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had previously vowed strict punishment for those he blamed for “severely neglecting” their duties, which he claimed led to significant casualties during the floods. His statements were made at an emergency party meeting held in late July.
Despite the severity of the disaster, North Korea’s state-controlled media has not officially reported any deaths, though they have distributed photos of Kim Jong Un overseeing rescue operations. The floods severely damaged around 4,100 homes, disrupted transport routes, and destroyed about 3,000 hectares of farmland in Sinuiju, a key trade hub near the Chinese border, and the nearby Uiju county. According to state media, approximately 5,000 people were rescued.
TV Chosun reports that the flood damage was even more extensive in Jagang province, which lies along the Yalu River (known as the Amnok River in Korea), bordering China. As recovery efforts continue, some bodies were discovered buried beneath the soil after water levels receded.
