Following heavy rains that caused flood damage across North Korea, residents of Pyoktong county, in North Pyongan province, are frustrated with party and youth organizations for prioritizing portraits of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il over relief for flood victims.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source in the province told Daily NK on Tuesday that the county’s party committee and the local chapter of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League quickly set up teams to check whether the portraits of the former leaders at various organizations and homes were being properly cared for after the flooding.
In North Korea, great importance is placed on taking care of portraits and statues of the Kim family and monuments to their on-the-spot guidance.
Community-level organizations are acting on orders from the county’s party committee and youth league to check for leaks at revolutionary historical sites and study centers and to make sure that portraits of the former leaders at various organizations, schools and homes were not damaged by moisture or flooding.
“Officials from local party committees in Yonpung and Songi villages in Pyoktong county and low-level officials from farm chapters of the youth league have been making the rounds of homes to check on the condition of the portraits there. Most of the families are being told to replace their charcoal pouches,” the source said.
Charcoal is known to be highly effective at removing moisture and smell from the air. In North Korea, pouches holding this natural moisture remover are placed behind Kim family portraits. Families are supposed to take care of the charcoal pouches and dry out or replace the charcoal when it gets too wet.
“Middle and high schools in Pyoktong county are also inspecting and replacing charcoal pouches attached to the portraits there. The whole county is a disaster zone after the flood, but the priority is on caring for the portraits in accordance with the orders received,” the source said.
“The authorities have stressed the importance of checking on the charcoal pouches, which they say are an indicator of how well people are caring for the portraits. Local chapters of the youth league even held a meeting about replacing charcoal pouches and youth league members are currently being mobilized to make new pouches.”
But residents of Pyoktong county are upset that portrait inspections are being prioritized over rebuilding after the flood.
“How are people supposed to come up with new charcoal when they can’t even find any kindling after the flood? People are fed up with officials who don’t seem to care about the public and are focusing on portrait inspections as they seek to curry favor with their superiors,” the source said.
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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