September 4, 2024: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered the execution of 20 to 30 officials for their alleged failure to prevent severe flooding and landslides this past summer, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 4,000 people, according to South Korean media.
According to the reports, the officials were charged with corruption and dereliction of duty, leading to their execution. “It has been determined that 20 to 30 cadres in the flood-stricken area were executed at the same time late last month,” an official under Kim’s regime told the media.
The reports of these executions have not yet been independently verified. However, earlier, the North Korean Central News Agency had reported that Kim ordered authorities to “strictly punish” officials following the catastrophic flooding in Chagang Province in July, which also displaced more than 15,000 people, The New York Times reported.