A senior official responsible for managing emergency rice reserves at North Korea’s State Affairs Commission has been disciplined for submitting false reports about reserve levels, according to a source in Pyongyang.
The source told Daily NK recently that “in early April, an internal investigation revealed an official in charge of emergency rice reserves had been expelled from the party and dismissed from his position for falsifying reports instead of replenishing depleted reserves.”
According to the source, North Korea released 20% of the State Affairs Commission’s emergency rice reserves last summer when flooding struck border regions in North Pyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces. Kim Jong Un issued an order requiring the reserves be fully replenished after the fall harvest.
However, a mid-March internal audit discovered the reserves hadn’t been restored despite reports claiming complete replenishment. While records showed 100% stockpiling, physical inspection revealed actual reserves were about 35% below normal levels. Investigators also found evidence of old inventory being repackaged to conceal the shortage.
The source said the investigation was secretly ordered by Kim Yo Jong, a member of the State Affairs Commission and Kim Jong Un’s sister. After receiving the audit results, Kim Yo Jong submitted a report to her brother before April 15 (Kim Il Sung’s birthday), securing approval for the official’s punishment.
Following the holiday, the official’s party expulsion and dismissal were decided during a closed meeting on “reestablishing leadership responsibility ethics.”
The official attempted to explain the shortage by citing “procurement shortfalls from lower units” and “transportation issues,” but Kim Yo Jong concluded it was deliberate deception and ordered immediate disciplinary action.
“Recently, Kim Yo Jong has been aggressively pushing for authority adjustments among some State Affairs Commission working-level officials through internal investigations, creating a tense atmosphere,” the source said. “The power elite are being extremely cautious as these incidents stem from Kim Yo Jong taking on the role of her brother’s secret inspector and digging into officials’ backgrounds.”
