North Korea may have executed officials over flood response, reports say
 

North Korea may have executed multiple officials over damage from devastating floods in July that wrecked thousands of homes and left up to 1,500 people dead or missing, according to South Korean intelligence.

South Korea’s national intelligence service said it was closely monitoring signs that the regime had carried out the executions after the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un, told an emergency meeting of the ruling party’s politburo that he would “strictly punish” those responsible for the damage, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported.

Heavy rain and flooding struck the northern provinces of Jagang and North Pyongan in July, destroying thousands of hectares of farmland and displacing thousands of people, Yonhap added.

The alleged executions, also reported by TV Chosun in the South, have not been independently verified and North Korean state media has made no mention of them. South Korea’s spy agency said only that it had “detected signs” that executions had taken place, without giving details

“Around 20 to 30 leaders were charged with corruption and dereliction of duty. They have been sentenced to capital punishment,” TV Chosun said, quoting an unnamed North Korean official.

The executed officials may have included Kang Pong-hun, who was previously the chief secretary of the Jagang provincial committee of the ruling party, South Korean media said.

Kang and other senior officials, including the then public security minister, Ri Thae-sop, were dismissed during the politburo meeting in late July, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Kim was pictured onboard a dinghy taking part in flood relief efforts in Sinuiju and Uiju County in North Pyongan province, with state media claiming he had overseen an operation to rescue about 5,000 trapped people using military helicopters.

One resident told Radio Free Asia that people in and around part of Ryanggang province were in a “life-threatening” situation as a result of the flooding.

North Korea is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its weak infrastructure and resistance to international aid.

Source : https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/sep/05/north-korea-kim-jong-un-flood-response-reported-executions

Comprehension

What natural disaster struck North Korea in July, and what were its effects?
How many people were reported dead or missing due to the flooding?
What did Kim Jong-un reportedly say during the politburo meeting regarding the officials responsible for the damage?
Which North Korean provinces were most affected by the heavy rain and flooding?
What has South Korea's national intelligence service detected regarding the North Korean response to the floods?
What were some officials charged with before being reportedly executed?
Who was Kang Pong-hun, and what happened to him after the flooding?
How did Kim Jong-un contribute to flood relief efforts according to North Korean state media?

Discussion

How do you think natural disasters can impact a country's leadership decisions?
Why might North Korea have punished its officials so harshly after the floods?
How do you feel about the use of capital punishment in response to government failures?
What do you think North Korea could do to improve its response to natural disasters?
How does North Korea's lack of international aid make it more vulnerable to disasters?
How can governments balance holding officials accountable while ensuring fair treatment?
How might the public in North Korea feel about the government's response to the flooding?
Have you ever experienced a natural disaster in your community? How did your government respond?
What are some ways countries can prepare better for extreme weather events like flooding?
Do you think media reports from different countries can always be trusted when discussing events in North Korea? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

Devastating – Causing great damage or harm.
Dereliction of duty – Failure to do one’s job or responsibility properly.
Capital punishment – The legally authorized killing of someone as a punishment for a crime.
Politburo – The principal policymaking committee in communist countries.
Displacing – Forcing people to leave their homes due to a disaster or conflict.
Dinghy – A small boat often used in emergencies or for short trips.
Infrastructure – Basic physical and organizational structures needed for a society to function (e.g., roads, buildings).
Corruption – Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power.