Russian aid supplies have been delivered to flood-affected areas in North Korea, including an unusual provision of butter, which brought joy to the residents, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). However, reports have emerged that a resident who expressed gratitude by saying “Long live Putin” was detained by the State Security Department.
Recently, a shipment of flood relief supplies from Russia, including food, sugar, butter, and cooking oil, arrived by freight train at the Tumen River Station, where the North Korea-Russia railway connects (Rason-Hasan line).
These supplies were distributed to flood-stricken areas, prompting the State Security Department to monitor residents’ reactions closely.
A source from North Pyongan Province, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, told RFA on August 23 that “rice and flour sufficient for a month’s supply for a family of four (about 50-60 kg) were provided to flood victims in Uiju County. These were relief supplies sent by Russia.”
However, the source noted, “I do not know exactly how much flood relief material arrived in North Korea or how many freight cars were involved.”
Notably, some supplies, excluding rice and flour, were distributed as part of a “special provision” timed to coincide with Korea’s Liberation Day on August 15.
The source explained, “As part of the ‘August 15 holiday supplies,’ each flood-affected household received 1 kg of soybean oil and 200 grams of butter. Word has spread among residents that these special supplies also came from Russia.”
For the general population in North Korea, butter is known as something spread on bread in Western countries, but except for a wealthy few, it is a food that many have never tasted. This is the first time that such butter has been provided to flood victims, according to RFA.
The source reported that a 40-year-old female flood victim who received the supplies exclaimed “Long live Putin!” inside her temporary tent shelter, but was subsequently detained by the Uiju County State Security Department.
The temporary shelters provided to North Korean flood victims were outdoor tents imported from China, with 2 to 3 households, or 6 to 9 people, sharing each tent.
The source added, “The woman was released after writing a self-criticism statement at the Security Department, but flood victims are expressing discomfort, suspecting that the authorities have planted spies within the temporary shelters to monitor residents.” The woman was forced to pledge not to repeat the comment in her statement, the source explained.
In North Korea, the saying “If three people gather, one is a State Security informant” highlights the routine surveillance residents face.
Another source from North Pyongan Province, also speaking anonymously, confirmed to RFA that “after receiving supplies of food, sugar, and butter that were donated by Putin, flood victims have been expressing gratitude towards Russia.”
Although the North Korean authorities did not explicitly state that the supplies came from Russia, the source explained that “the flood victims recognized the aid as being from Russia because the flour bags bore Russian words.”
The source further explained that the flood victims’ gratitude stems from being able to feed their children with butter, a food item they had only seen in foreign movies or dramas, which they attribute to Russian aid rather than the “love from the dear leader (a term referring to the North Korean leadership).”
Residents have expressed frustration, saying that with Russian aid offering some relief, there should be no harm in expressing gratitude towards Putin.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
