North Korea’s chronic power shortages leave most of the country in darkness at night, but new apartments housing flood victims in Sinuiju tell a different story. The regime has instructed residents to keep their lights on at night to project an image of prosperity to foreign observers, Daily NK has learned.<\/p>\n
“The Central Committee ordered the provincial power distribution department to maintain continuous electricity to the new apartments and facilities built for flood victims in Sinuiju,” a North Pyongan province source told Daily NK on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
These directives came shortly before Kim Jong Un’s appearance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the flood-impacted area’s apartments on Dec. 21.<\/p>\n
People living along the Yalu River were instructed by their neighborhood watch units to keep lights on from sunset at 4:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. “The neighborhood watch leaders conduct nightly inspections to ensure compliance,” the source said.<\/p>\n
“While Sinuiju has always enjoyed better electricity access due to its position on the Chinese border, prioritizing power for residential apartments over factories represents an unprecedented shift,” noted the source.<\/p>\n
According to the source, Central Committee camera crews have been spotted filming nighttime scenes around the new apartments. “They’re trying to portray our country as developed despite the widespread power shortages,” the source explained.<\/p>\n
The location of these apartments, visible from the Chinese border, suggests the illumination mandate aims to maximize propaganda value for international observers.<\/p>\n
Notably, people have been instructed to use electricity solely for nighttime lighting \u2013 essentially limiting power use to serve the regime’s propaganda purposes rather than people’s actual needs.<\/p>\n
Despite these restrictions, apartment residents have responded positively to the reliable power supply. One Sinuiju flood victim who moved into the new housing told the source, “Just having dependable electricity is remarkable. Being able to turn on lights at night feels incredible.”<\/p>\n
The guaranteed nighttime power has particularly excited residents because it enables them to use televisions and other appliances, even if unofficially.<\/p>\n