North Korea's Kim Jong Un executes 30 govt officials for 'failing to prevent deaths' during massive floods: Report

Digital Desk: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly ordered the execution of around 30 government officials for their failure to prevent the deaths of over a thousand people during recent floods in Chagang Province. 

According to South Korean media, the heavy rains and subsequent landslides in July led to numerous casualties and left thousands homeless. Chosun TV, citing a North Korean official, reported that the executions were carried out late last month as a punishment for what was deemed an unacceptable loss of life.

The North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that Kim Jong Un, during an emergency Politburo meeting in Sinuiju, demanded strict punishment for those who were allegedly negligent in their disaster prevention duties. He criticized the officials for their failure to protect the population, which resulted in what he described as "even the casualty that cannot be allowed."

The severity of the floods in Chagang Province has highlighted the ongoing vulnerabilities in North Korea's disaster preparedness and response systems. The northwestern region, particularly the city of Sinuiju and the neighboring town of Uiju, was severely affected, with reports indicating that over 4,100 houses, 7,410 acres of agricultural land, and numerous public buildings and infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.

The execution of the officials and the ongoing investigation into the actions of dismissed Chagang Province Party Secretary Kang Bong-hoon, who previously served as a deputy director of the Munitions Industry Department, underscore the regime's harsh response to perceived failures within its ranks.

While North Korea's secretive nature makes it difficult to verify the exact details, the reported executions reflect the regime's zero-tolerance approach to what it perceives as failures of duty, especially when it comes to protecting the state and its people. The tragedy has cast a spotlight on the severe consequences government officials face for lapses in responsibility.