North Korea’s leadership is tracking the movements of key provincial, city and county officials during Kim Jong Un’s recent visit to flood-damaged areas, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source in Yanggang Province told Daily NK on Monday that the Organization and Guidance Department of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea ordered detailed, hourly reports on the whereabouts and activities of party secretaries and people’s committee chairs during Kim’s July 28 tour of flood sites in Sinuiju and Uiju.
The source said the order was emphasized as a “No. 1 directive” to ensure thorough compliance with Kim’s instructions and strengthen control and reporting systems.
Yanggang Province’s party committee reportedly gathered and submitted time-stamped accounts of local officials’ movements to the party on Aug. 4.
Officials were also required to submit individual activity reports, the source said.
The provincial party announced plans to hold ideological struggle meetings between Aug. 5-7, described as a way to gauge officials’ loyalty by examining how diligently they executed Kim’s orders.
“Yanggang Province is thoroughly implementing the party’s directive by promptly submitting accurate reports and preparing meticulously for the ideological struggle meetings to further strengthen internal unity,” the source said.
The state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on July 29 that Kim personally directed flood relief efforts in Sinuiju and Uiju the previous day.
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons.
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