Heavy rains have once again caused flood damage in Kujang county, North Pyongan province. The area already suffered serious destruction late last month, but with another disaster striking in less than a month, rumors are spreading among residents that they are “cursed” for having caught a snake with ears.
A Daily NK source in North Pyongan province reported recently that torrential rains from Aug. 16-19 caused rivers in Kujang county to overflow, flooding numerous homes and sweeping away household goods such as televisions and bicycles, as well as livestock.
Late last month, heavy rains also hit Kujang county, washing away small and medium-sized power plant facilities, destroying bridges, and triggering landslides and flash floods that left at least 20 residents dead or missing.
When it was later revealed that local officials had concealed the extent of the damage by submitting false reports, a full investigation was launched and those responsible were punished.
With another disaster striking less than a month later, residents have responded with dark humor, saying, “There must not even be any officials left to punish.”
Snake superstitions take hold
Recently, however, ominous rumors have spread that the disaster was caused by someone catching a giant snake, after word circulated that a resident of Sao-ri village had captured a 20-kilogram serpent.
“For generations, people have believed that disturbing a snake brings heaven’s wrath. So instead of pointing to structural causes like deforestation or poor flood control facilities, residents find the idea of a ‘snake’s curse’ more convincing,” the source said.
Beliefs that snakes are sacred and that harming them brings misfortune are found in many cultures worldwide. In Korea and Japan, for example, people believe that catching a house snake drives away good fortune and can even bring illness or death. In Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, snakes are regarded as divine beings that govern water and rain, and mishandling them is believed to cause natural disasters like floods or droughts.
Similar beliefs exist in Europe and the Americas, where ancient myth and religion cast snakes as spiritual beings, and killing or harming them was thought to bring divine punishment or disaster upon a family or community.
Political deflection through superstition
In reality, however, the flood damage stems from natural weather events compounded by poor drainage, inadequate river management, and deforestation. Still, the source said North Koreans turn to supernatural explanations because they cannot openly blame the state for failing to take effective measures.
“The snake story here is not just a superstition, but a way for people to explain the chaos of disasters without making it a political issue,” the source said.
He added that some believe the authorities even allow or subtly encourage such rumors to keep people’s anger and resentment from being directed at the state rather than supernatural forces.
