On September 4, 2024, South Korean media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the execution of up to 30 government officials for their alleged failure to prevent severe flooding and landslides this summer. The floods, which struck Chagang Province, resulted in around 4,000 deaths, though other reports suggest higher casualty figures.
The executions followed an emergency Politburo meeting held in Sinuiju, where Kim instructed authorities to “strictly punish” officials who neglected their disaster prevention duties. The North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that Kim demanded severe repercussions for those responsible for the disaster.
The officials executed were not named, but Kang Bong-hoon, the secretary of the Chagang Province Provincial Party Committee, was reportedly dismissed during the emergency meeting.
The flooding affected over 4,000 homes and isolated 5,000 residents. Kim Jong Un has designated parts of three provinces as “special disaster emergency zones” and estimated that rebuilding efforts will take two to three months.