In a normal country, when people face natural disasters such as floods, they usually evacuate quickly. However, in North Korea, a dictatorship, flood victims have been punished for not rescuing the portraits of the country’s leaders while evacuating, as if these portraits were more important than their lives.
According to Radio Free Asia’s report on October 8th, the cult of personality surrounding the Kim dynasty has deeply infiltrated North Korean society, to the extent that every household is required to display portraits of former leaders Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung. This is mandated by the country’s laws.
These portraits must be prominently displayed in the main living spaces and kept pristine. They are considered the most important items in the household, at least in the eyes of the government. People are expected to protect them at all costs. The government even praises those who risk their lives to save the portraits during emergencies.
However, during the flooding in Chagang Province in July, many evacuees left behind these portraits as their homes were destroyed, causing them to be damaged.
A resident from Chagang Province, who wished to remain anonymous, told the radio station’s Korean department that the local government is investigating survivors and punishing those who failed to protect the portraits of the former leaders.
The resident said, “On September 9th, the authorities established a flood investigation team. This team is conducting an in-depth investigation into the belongings that residents took with them when fleeing during the flood.”
She explained that residents being investigated are unaware of the true purpose of the investigation. They clearly state what they took with them, such as food and clothing. However, they did not anticipate that their honesty could be used against them by the investigation team, leading to their misfortune.
She further disclosed that during the flooding on the nights of July 27 and the early hours of July 28 in Chagang Province’s Kanggye City, all men were mobilized to move sandbags for flood defense, leaving only women at home unable to take much with them.
Additionally, some people were punished for failing to protect their Labor Party membership cards. Similar to the portraits of former leaders, these party cards are also expected to be safeguarded. Party members are required to carry their cards at all times, stored in waterproof pouches.
Party membership in North Korea is considered a great honor, granting privileges such as access to better housing, schools, and employment opportunities.
Another anonymous resident from Chagang Province told the radio station that some residents who failed to protect the portraits of the former leaders were punished, while others were forgiven based on whether they took other valuable items during the evacuation.
He mentioned, “Those who took household belongings like televisions but left behind the portraits are being exiled to rural areas.”
Regardless of the reasons, everyone who lost their party membership card faced consequences. “This is because they disregarded the principle of always carrying the party card with them.”
He noted that ordinary party members who lose their cards are demoted to party candidates, while party officials who lose their cards are expelled from the party.