Mount Myohyang. (Wikimedia Commons)

Two North Korean tourists died of heart attacks after secretly entering a cold waterfall in Mount Myohyang, according to a source in North Pyongan Province.

The source told Daily NK on Wednesday that the incident occurred on July 16 when two visitors, seeking relief from the heat, snuck away from their tour group to enter the Isonnam Falls.

“After participating in an event, they impulsively went down to the waterfall and immersed themselves in the water. They suddenly suffered heart attacks and died,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

The bodies were taken to a nearby hospital and families were notified, according to the source.

Authorities silence witnesses to cover up incident

Tourism officials blamed the victims’ “individualistic behavior” for the tragedy.

“The officials criticized the two people’s freewheeling actions, saying the accident was caused by secretly going down to the waterfall instead of moving with the designated group,” the source said.

Authorities attempted to obscure the exact location of the incident and told people not to spread rumors.

“This was done to protect the image of Mount Myohyang’s waterfall, a natural monument, and to thoroughly conceal the accident with future foreign tourists in mind,” the source explained.

However, locals who knew about the accident expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation.

“People pointed out the lack of basic safety measures while restricting access to protect the natural monument. They called for more effective safety measures to prevent recurrences,” the source said.

Mount Myohyang, known for its scenic beauty, has recently become a popular domestic tourist destination in North Korea.

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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