Yesterday, Rodong Shinmun reported on the delivery of goodie bags of candies and cookies to children all over North Korea, symbols of Kim Jong Eun’s love for the people. The article even claimed that gifts were delivered to remote islands in the West Sea by helicopter and plane.
They flew to “Seo Island, Seok Island, Sowoon Island, Ka Island, Daehwa Island, Rab Island, Ae Island and Tando Island in the West Sea,” the piece claimed, adding that local residents welcomed the visitors with great joy.
However, defectors closely acquainted with the islands in that region say that the entire story is highly implausible.
One, Kim Sung Jo, who was stationed with the North Korean military on another island, Cho Island, before he defected last year, said, “From Cho Island to Seo Island is not more than a few hundred meters, so I know well that it is very small and characterized by sharp cliffs. There is only one elderly lighthouse keeper living on it.
“At the sharp tip of Seo Island is a lighthouse and rainwater purification tank, along with a small square yard. Only in a fairy tale could a helicopter land there.”
Kim continued to talk about another island in the chain that the story claimed a visit to, saying, “On Jamae Island, which is near the West Sea Barrage at Nampo, I have only seen three couples in their fifties who live there to operate the lighthouse. I did not see any children last year when I was there. Saying you landed on that island with candy gifts would be a downright a lie as well.”
“If there are any elementary students on these islands, they usually board and study in Nampo. They are referred to as ‘foreign students’, although they aren’t. It is ridiculous to say that a helicopter flew all the way to Jamae Island to distribute gifts.”
Moon Chul Ju, another defector who worked in the fishing industry in Oncheon County, South Pyongan Province prior to his defection, pointed out, “Rab Island and Sorab Island are very small craggy islands. Only seagulls fly over them.”
