Act of treason: Kim Jong Un orders North Koreans to stop killing themselves as suicides rise
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued an order to local authorities to ban suicides after data showed numbers skyrocketing, according to government officials who spoke to Radio Free Asia.
The exact number of suicides in North Korea is difficult to ascertain as the regime rarely offers insight into the country’s shortcomings. However, the South Korean National Intelligence Service estimated in May that suicides had increased by about 40 per cent from the previous year.
Kim described suicide as an “act of treason against socialism”. The order also stated that local government officials would also be held accountable for failing to prevent people from killing themselves in their jurisdiction.
An official from the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity that the confidential suicide prevention order was delivered in emergency meetings in each province of the party committee leaders at the provincial, city, and county levels.
Data on the number of suicides was provided as well as examples of entire families killing themselves, the official added.
According to Radio Free Asia, the official said that those who attended the meeting were “shocked” by the disclosure of suicide notes that criticized the country and the social system.
Another official from the neighbouring province of Ryanggang, whose identity was also kept anonymous, told Radio Free Asia that suicide was affecting the community more than starvation.
“Despite the suicide-prevention policy ratified by the general secretary, the officials were not able to come up with an appropriate solution,” the official was quoted by Radio Free Asia as saying.
According to the information received, most of the suicides were caused by severe poverty and starvation.
During the meeting, there were discussions involving graphic descriptions of suicide cases, which included further instances of entire families taking their lives.