North Korea’s electric power crisis has impacted not just the Korean People’s Army, but also North Korea’s main institution in the development of strategic weapons, the Kim Jong Un National Defense University.
According to Daily NK sources on Dec. 6, electricity issues at the Kim Jong Un National Defense University this winter are worse than they have ever been.
Previously, electricity had been guaranteed for 24 hours a day at the university. The reasoning was that consistent power was a requirement for the research and development of weapons. However, the daily electricity allotment has now halved, with eight hours allotted during the day and four hours allotted during the night. The idea of a definite guarantee of electricity has started to crumble.
The surrounding areas, populated by private homes, are no different, sources said. Previously, they enjoyed 12 hours of electricity per day, but at present the electricity supply only lasts from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., for a total of four hours. This represents a sharp drop in the supply time, a cut of one-third.
Power outages have increased in sudden frequency since November. The standstill of operations at water power plants during the winter is a direct factor in the decrease of electricity production.
“The National Defense University, a sanctum for cultivating scientists in the national defense technology sector, has never had its electricity supply cut off in the past,” one source told Daily NK. “This is perhaps an indication of just how bad North Korea’s electricity and economic situations are.”
The deteriorating supply of power also impacted lecture times, something unprecedented.
The administrative division of the university had to change the times of classes featuring experiments and practical training with equipment to times when there was electricity. In addition, the university adopted strict controlling measures to restrict the time spent in labs and computer labs, the usage of electric lights in classrooms with less than five students.
In addition to the above, university administrators are also considering whether they should let school out early, and move ahead the dates for winter vacation, which traditionally begins on Dec. 25.
On the other hand, at residences near the university, the electricity usage spiked during the windows of time in which there was a supply of power, causing other problems.
“In November, an external transformer connected to a house was overloaded and caught on fire, and because of this they had to live in darkness for about three days without electricity,” said a source. “This happened because all of the households were trying to charge their batteries and use their refrigerators and washing machines during that small window of time, just four hours.”
*Translated by Violet Kim and edited by Oliver Osuna
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