Seoul accuses Pyongyang of shooting officials for July floods

A South Korean TV network reported the incident, while South Korean secret services say they are monitoring the situation. Some experts are sceptical, but during a meeting of the Politburo Kim Jong-un said he would punish those who “neglected” their duties.

Seoul (AsiaNews) – According to reports from a South Korean TV network, North Korea has executed dozens of officials held responsible for the damage caused by floods that hit the north of the country in July.

Citing an anonymous source in the South Korean government, Chosun TV said that between 20 and 30 officials were shot in recent days, but some experts have expressed scepticism.

This morning, South Korea’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said it was "closely monitoring" developments regarding the situation, without providing further details. South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which manages relations with North Korea, declined to comment.

Thousands of people are estimated to have died during the floods that hit Jagang particularly hard; the province borders China along the Yalu (Amnok) River. South Korean media reported that bodies were found during clearing soil after waters receded.

North Korea's propaganda machine released pictures of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un overseeing rescue operations, but without reporting casualty figures.

According to (the North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), rains damaged at least 4,100 homes and destroyed about 3,000 hectares of farmland in the city of Sinuiju, a commercial hub linked to China by a bridge. About 5,000 people were rescued.

At an emergency politburo meeting in late July, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un said he would punish officials who “severely neglected” their duties and were thus responsible for the casualties.

The Yonhap news agency reported that the former secretary of the Jagang Provincial Committee, Kang Pong-hun, could be among those executed.

Kang and other party members, including Public Security Minister Ri Thae-sop, were removed from their posts during the emergency politburo meeting.

• north
• korea
• south
• heavy rains
• floods
• jagang
• kim jong-un
• executions