Kim Jong Un Executes 30 Officials After Floods, Landslides: Report

News Summary

According to South Korean television news outlet TV Chosun, Kim Jong Un has reportedly carried out the execution of around 30 officials due to their failure in preventing Yalu River flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall last month. The officials who were executed are said to have also faced charges of corruption and neglect of duty.

Lee Il-gyu, a former North Korean diplomat defecting to South Korea around November 2023, discussed the dismissals with TV Chosun, stating, "Even though there was recent flood damage, they were dismissed for social security reasons, and the executives themselves are so anxious that they don't know when their necks will fall off."

Commentary

This incident shows Kim Jong Un's desperate needs to divert his people's anger and dissatisfaction away from himself. His deep sense of insecurity primarily stems from his own citizens at this point. Kim needs to find sacrifices that can bear the full weight of his people's blame and rage, a trend that is likely to continue and even increase in the future.

This will not only make his officials quake in fear but also drive them to seek ways to safeguard themselves from their ruthless leader. The recent rise in the defection of North Korean elites serves as compelling evidence. However, there is a threshold to the fear that North Korean elites and officials can endure from their boss. Eventually, there will be a pushback against Kim and his family as the number of executions rises.