North Korean flood victims who lost their homes or families told not to show sadness

North Koreans who lost everything when last week’s floodwaters submerged their island homes–killing their families in some cases–were forbidden from expressing grief, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia.

On the evening of July 27 and the early morning of July 28, the island of Wihwa in the country’s northwest was completely submerged by flooding in the Yalu River that separates North Korea from China.

RFA reported last week that not only did the country’s leader Kim Jong Un refuse help from China to evacuate Wihwa and other islands before they were claimed by the raging river, he arrived on the scene to “lead rescue efforts,” long after the waters had subsided.

North Korean state media reported that after the floods, Kim Jong Un held an emergency meeting in the city of Sinuiju, and he said that he blamed Kang Bong Hun, the provincial party committee secretary of Chagang Province, and Ri Thae Sop, the minister of social security, for “causing unacceptable casualties” and dismissed them from their positions.

In the days following their evacuation, the residents who made it off the island were forced to watch propaganda videos that paint Kim as a hero, and they must avoid showing even a hint of sadness on their faces, a resident of the northwestern province of North Pyongan told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

“An official who participated in the flood investigation said that hundreds of people from Wihwa were still missing,” he said, adding that some of them were evacuated from the island by helicopter and are taking shelter in hotels and inns in the city of Sinuiju.  

“On the first day, flood victims cried in despair because their elderly parents and young children were washed away by the flood, but they were stopped by guards.”

The guards are police officials, he said. As part of their rescue efforts, they surveil the flood victims and force them to watch videos of Kim Jong Un rescuing people in the flooded areas. 

“The guards insisted that the victims be thankful for Kim Jong Un’s love for his people,” the resident said, adding that the flood victims are under nonstop surveillance. “They are unable to cry … resentment is building up in their hearts.”

Wihwa island was the worst hit of several islands located near the mouth of the Yalu, another resident, who requested anonymity for personal safety, told RFA.

“The missing and dead number will exceed 1,000, when all of the islands … are accounted for,” he said, adding that many of the flood victims are disturbed by the images of the flooding they are being made to watch.

“Their families were washed away by the current or killed when their homes collapsed due to heavy rain, but they are unable to even show a sad expression on their faces due to surveillance from the authorities,” the second resident said. 

But they must still watch propaganda videos and give thanks to their leader for saving them every day, he said.

“The authorities gather the flood victims every morning and show a video of the Highest Dignity commanding the flood disaster site,” he said, using an honorific to refer to Kim Jong Un. “They are continuing the propaganda that the people are fortunate to have such a leader. Some flood victims turned around and expressed their anger.”

Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong.