Sunday, May 18, 2014

Unfinished Apartment Building Collapses in North Korea WIth Families Inside

An apartment building in North Korea collapsed in the city of Pyongyang. Reports say that it was a 'serious accident' and that it 'claimed casualties'. Although it is unknown the exact number of lives taken, its safe to say that it was a reasonable amount. A Officials say that it is not uncommon for families to move into apartment buildings before they are finished being built. Officials also said that the building was not properly built enough for the families to move in. This particular building was 23 floors high and it was estimated that approximately 92 families living in the complex. What is so unusual about this article was the fact that it mentioned, North Korean Leader, Kim Jong Un's reaction. Reports said that when he got word of the accident, he was very upset and stayed up most of the night feeling 'painful'. Kim Su Gil, Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City Committee said that the accident was 'unimaginable' and that authorities are taking steps to help those effected by the accident.

The thing that I find interesting about this article is that this story was even released. North Korea is extremely private about anything that happens inside of borders. They released stories of natural disasters, but never anything like this. I also think that Kim Jong Un's reaction is one that the rest of the world is not used to. If its true that he felt sympathy towards those lost or those who were effected by this accident, then I think it shows that he isn't the robot that most make him out to be. Just as the people of North Korea love their leader, he, I would like think, cares for them back. I know that they are a whole nation that is taught to hate America and Americans are offended by that, but there is so much that we may never know about North Korea or its leader.

for more on the story: http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/18/world/asia/north-korea-building-collapse/index.html?hpt=ias_c2

-Elizabeth Brennan

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