Categories: ForeignWORLD

North Korean Mother faces jail for saving kids from fire instead of Kim Jong il’s portrait

A North Korean mother has been threatened with jail after saving her two children from a house fire but allowing portraits of North Korea’s leaders to burn.

The woman has been placed under investigation by the country’s Ministry of State Security after a fire broke out in a home shared by two families in Onsong County, North Hamgyong Province, close to the Chinese border.

Both sets of parents were out at the time the fire started but raced back to save their families after seeing smoke. In the process, one set of portraits was destroyed.

North Korea demands that every home display paintings of its past leaders, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, and sends inspectors to ensure that they do.

According to the Hermit Kingdom’s laws, all depictions of the Kim family must be treated with the same reverence as the men themselves meaning failure to care for the portraits properly is a serious crime.

If found guilty, the mother is facing a lengthy prison sentence with hard labour.

North Korea demands that every home display paintings of its past leaders, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, and sends inspectors to ensure that they do.

Sponsored

According to the Hermit Kingdom’s laws, all depictions of the Kim family must be treated with the same reverence as the men themselves meaning failure to care for the portraits properly is a serious crime.

If found guilty, the mother is facing a lengthy prison sentence with hard labour.

Jun Yoo-sung, who fled the country in 2005, recalled such an incident in a 2015 interview.

‘When a house was set on fire, some children were found burnt to death, holding on to those portraits,’ she said.

Han Hyon-Gyong, 14, drowned trying to save her family’s Kim portraits after a flash flood struck her home in Sinhung County, South Hamkyong, in 2012.

North Koreans who rescue their Kim portraits from floods and fires are feted as heroes especially if they die in the attempt.

SPONSORED
Alex Enemanna

A print journalist with vast knowledge of political developments in Nigeria. Passionate about equity and fairness through robust developmental journalism.

Recent Posts

NDDC Begins Repairs Of Owerri-Port Harcourt Road

Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the NDDC, has visited the ongoing repairs being…

8 minutes ago

Uninterrupted Power Supply Kicks Off In Ibadan

Governor Seyi Makinde's 11 megawatt Ibadan Hybrid Power Project kicked off operation earlier this month.…

23 minutes ago

“Tinubu’s Reforms Will Soon Deliver Results” – Minister

Dr. Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has reassured Nigerians…

37 minutes ago

LPDC Dismisses Disbarment Petition Against Dele Farotimi

LPDC aborted Chief Afe Babalola’s (SAN) request to revoke Dele Farotimi over allegations of criminal…

48 minutes ago

Budget: FG Prosecutes Terrorists With N780m, SSAs Get N2bn Vehicles

FG has set aside more than N780m for the prosecution of cases involving terrorism, anti-money…

1 hour ago

“Let Us Renew Our Hope, Belief In Nigeria” – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu urges Nigerians to celebrate the holidays with love, peace, and unity and…

1 hour ago