Reports: Kim Jong Un Orders Execution of 30 Officials Over Failure to Prevent Flooding and Landslides

Multiple South Korean media reports suggest that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the execution of up to 30 officials following their failure to prevent the devastating flooding and landslides that resulted in approximately 1,000 deaths. The executions reportedly occurred late last month, according to a report by South Korea's Chosun TV, which cited a North Korean official.

The North Korean leader reportedly called for "strict punishment" for those responsible for the "unacceptable loss of life" caused by the disasters. The officials were also charged with corruption and negligence. According to the source, "20 to 30 cadres in the flood-stricken area were executed at the same time late last month."

While the names of the executed officials have not been disclosed, North Korea’s state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that Kang Bong-hoon, secretary of the Chagang Province Provincial Party Committee since 2019, was among the leaders dismissed by Kim Jong Un.

In July, North Korea faced severe rainfall that triggered widespread landslides and flooding. The natural disasters affected over 4,000 homes and displaced 15,000 residents. Kim Jong Un personally visited the devastated areas and stated that recovery would take months. The government provided temporary shelter for around 15,400 people, including vulnerable groups such as mothers, children, the elderly, and disabled soldiers, in Pyongyang facilities.

However, Kim Jong Un has dismissed reports of a high death toll from the floods, calling them "false rumours" spread by South Korea in a "smear campaign" intended to tarnish North Korea's international image.

Former North Korean diplomat Lee Il-gyu commented, "Even though there was recent flood damage, they were dismissed for social security reasons, and the executives themselves are so anxious that they don't know when their necks will fall off."

According to The Korea Times, public executions in North Korea have surged dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, the country saw around 10 public executions annually, but that figure has reportedly risen to approximately 100 per year, a tenfold increase.