Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

Kim Jong Un’s Flood Fallout: How North Korea’s Disaster is Triggering a Defection Rush

Daniel Kim Views  

KCTV

North Korean discontent is building up. The country has been struggling for over a month with flood recovery efforts after heavy rainfall last month. Concern about the occurrence of a defection rush is rising due to its struggle with chronic food shortages following extensive flood damage.

According to NK News, a U.S.-based outlet focusing on North Korean affairs, the country’s overseas missions have canceled upcoming celebrations for the Day of the Foundation of the Republic, also known as “9·9 Day,” set for next month.

North Korean diplomats have reportedly informed guests that the reception for the Day of the Foundation of the Republic has been canceled due to the government’s focus on flood recovery efforts in the northwest region. This situation has prompted concerns about the regime’s worsening financial condition as it grapples with flood damage.

The situation appears more challenging despite Kim Jong Un’s public assurances that North Korea can handle the flood crisis independently. The South Korean National Intelligence Service reports North Korea has experienced significant damage from recent floods in the Amnok River area. This contrasts with China, where the damage has been less severe. The report attributes the extensive damage to poorly constructed earthen levees, built to only 1 meter (3.3 feet) in height.

Park Sun Won, a member of South Korea’s Democratic Party and the opposition’s representative on the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, told reporters after a committee meeting, “Most of the damage is inevitable heading to North Korea when heavy rains coincide with high tides along the west coast. While it appears to be a natural disaster, the National Intelligence Service’s analysis indicates that it is fundamentally a man-made disaster due to a lack of prevention measures against heavy rain and flooding.”

Given these circumstances, Kim Jong Un, who initially turned down Russian President Vladimir Putin’s flood aid offer by stating that he would request help if necessary, has recently accepted aid supplies from Russia.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported last week that as Russian-supplied food items such as sugar, butter, and cooking oil arrived in flood-affected areas, North Korea’s Ministry of State Security began intensifying its surveillance of residents. According to a source in North Pyongan Province, “Rice and flour were provided to flood victims in Uiju County as monthly rations, about 50 to 60 kilograms (110 to 132 pounds) per family of four,” adding, “These supplies are from Russia.”

Discontent among residents, including those affected by the floods, appears to grow amid the harsh conditions. Experts warn that this discontent could potentially lead to increased defections. Intelligence reports suggest that dissatisfaction with Kim Jong Un’s regime is rising, with the number of defectors increasing compared to 2020 to 2022.

Jeon Sung Hoon, an assistant professor at Kyungmin University, commented, “In a non-democratic society, individual incidents may not lead to mass actions, but ongoing discontent can accumulate and lead to significant unrest.” He further noted, “Even the strongest iron can break under sustained fatigue.”

Jeon also highlighted that extensive flooding could catalyze defection, noting that the number of defectors increased two to three times annually following the mid-1990s food crisis, compared to about ten per year in the early 1990s.

Daniel Kim
content@viewusglobal.com

Comments1

300

Comments1

  • I fear that North Korea will pursue military actions to cover this situation and blame the South and the US for these natural events. Remember in an Authoritarian country, the government must always have a standby enemy. One that they can pounce on quickly... Who is closer... You get nine guesses...

[ASIA] Latest Stories

  • North Korea Buried in April Snow—Experts Warn of Major Crop Damage After Climate Shock
  • North Korea’s Smartest Teens Are Being Dragged Into the Military—Here’s Why
  • North Korea Opens Its First Internet Café—and Kim Jong Un Brings His Daughter
  • Vietnam Cracks Down on Imports to Avoid U.S. Tariff Backlash
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Time Spec Breaks Tsukuba Circuit Record, Cementing EV Performance Legacy
  • North Korea Sends Young Volunteers to Dangerous Jobs Under the Guise of Voluntary Participation

You May Also Like

  • 1
    This Study Says Winter-Conceived Babies May Grow Up Leaner—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Harvard Reveals 7 Easy Chair Exercises That Are Surprisingly Powerful for Seniors

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Spring Is Here, So Why Are You Exhausted and Anxious?

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Why Cancer Risk Soars After a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis—Even Without Obesity

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Dark Red vs. Bright Red: How to Spot Colon Cancer Early

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Is 'Bad' Cholesterol Messing with Your Brain? New Study Says Yes

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    New Study Finds Coffee Supercharges Good Gut Bacteria — Even Decaf

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Powder, Liquid, or Bar? Here's the Best Protein for Your Fitness Goals

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Your Pillow Is 17 Times Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat—the Gross Truth

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Your Blood Pressure Could Be a Time Bomb—Here’s What You Need to Know

    LIFESTYLE 

Must-Reads

  • 1
    This Study Says Winter-Conceived Babies May Grow Up Leaner—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Harvard Reveals 7 Easy Chair Exercises That Are Surprisingly Powerful for Seniors

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Spring Is Here, So Why Are You Exhausted and Anxious?

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Why Cancer Risk Soars After a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis—Even Without Obesity

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Dark Red vs. Bright Red: How to Spot Colon Cancer Early

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Is 'Bad' Cholesterol Messing with Your Brain? New Study Says Yes

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    New Study Finds Coffee Supercharges Good Gut Bacteria — Even Decaf

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Powder, Liquid, or Bar? Here's the Best Protein for Your Fitness Goals

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Your Pillow Is 17 Times Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat—the Gross Truth

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Your Blood Pressure Could Be a Time Bomb—Here’s What You Need to Know

    LIFESTYLE 

Share it on...