Reporter: What are your thoughts on the nuclear bomb?

Resident: Here (North Korea), we say, “Nukes can break the earth.” This is one of General Kim Jong-il’s sayings and has been repeated at local meetings since. People also often say, “The earth can’t exist without North Korea.”

Reporter: Is that what happens? Do the nukes break the earth?

Resident: We don’t know. We know about the missile launches because they publish photos after it happens, but what do we actually know about the nuclear tests? We are just told: “It succeeded’” or “It was powerful.” We don’t really care whether they launch missiles or not. We care more about making a living. People ask, “If they can spend so much on nuclear tests and missiles launches why don’t they distribute rations?”

 

Photo of propaganda with the explanation: The unity of the people and soldiers are absorbed in restoration work. From Rodong Shinmun on September 18.

 

Local government collects CNY50 per a household following flood damage

Reporter: Do you know about the flood damage in North Hamkyung Province?

Resident: Yes. Rumor has it that many people died along the Tumen river basin. I’ve heard that in China they were picking corpses out of the river and later returned them to North Korea. Many people are still missing. Others have lost their homes; swept away in the flood. This happens every year. The rainy season brings death and destruction.
Related Article: People believe that the sanction should hit hard on Kim Jong-un and the high ranks, but inevitably it is hitting on people’s lives as well……

Reporter: Is the North Hamkyung Province government asking for anything to help with the flood damage?

Resident: They’ve made several demands of the people. It most likely differs from village to village, but in our region the local authorities were demanding CNY50 per household. That amount may not be a big deal for party officials and rich people, but ordinary people are feeling the pinch. CNY50 is enough to get you more than a 10 kg bag of rice. If I had enough money, I’d be willing to help. But these demands make things really tough.

※ ASIAPRESS uses China-based phones to contact ASIAPRESS reporting partners inside North Korea.

 

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