This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now licensed for reprint.
Residents of North Korea told Radio Free Asia that they were forbidden from expressing their pain after their island homes were submerged next week, killing some residents.
The Yalu River, which separates North Korea from China, was entirely submerged in the area of Wihwa in the country’s north on July 27 and early on July 28 due to flooding.
RFA reported , next week , that not only did the country’s leader Kim Jong Un refuse support from China to remove Wihwa and other territories before they were claimed by the raging valley, he arrived on the scene to “lead save work”, 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.
Residents of the northwestern province of North Pyongan told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity that they were forced to watch propaganda videos that depict Kim as a hero in the days that followed their evacuation.
According to an official who participated in the flood investigation,” several people from Wihwa are still missing,” he said, noting that some of them had been taken out by helicopter from the island and are now settling in hotels and inns in Sinuiju.  ,  ,
” On the first day, flood victims cried in desperation because their elderly parents and young children were being slowed down by the flood but kept inside by guards.”
The guards are police officials, he said. They watch the flood victims and demand that they watch videos of Kim Jong Un rescuing people in the flooded areas as part of their rescue efforts.  ,
The resident, who added that the flood victims are being kept watch over them 24/7, remarked,” The guards insisted that the victims be thankful for Kim Jong Un’s love for his people.” They ca n’t cry, because their hearts are becoming more and more resentful.
One resident, who requested anonymity for privacy, told RFA that Wihwa island was the worst hit of several islands close to the Yalu’s mouth.
When all of the islands are found,” the missing and dead number will exceed 1, 000,” he said, adding that many of the flood victims are alarmed by the images being made toresemble the flooding.
The second resident claimed that their families were either killed or washed away when their homes collapsed as a result of authorities surveillance.  ,
They must still watch propaganda videos and thank their leader, he said, for saving them every day.
He said, using an honorific to refer to Kim Jong Un,” The authorities gather the flood victims every morning and show a video of the Highest Dignity commanding the flood disaster site.” They are furthering the false impression that the people have a great leader. Some of the flood victims reacted with anger.
