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| North Korea Admits to ‘Serious’ Building Collapse | North Korea Admits to ‘Serious’ Building Collapse |
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| SEOUL, South Korea — A 23-story apartment building that may have housed more than 90 families collapsed in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, last week, a South Korean government official said on Sunday, after the North reported a “serious” accident at a construction site. | SEOUL, South Korea — A 23-story apartment building that may have housed more than 90 families collapsed in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, last week, a South Korean government official said on Sunday, after the North reported a “serious” accident at a construction site. |
| Earlier Sunday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that the accident occurred at an apartment construction site in the Pyongchon district of Pyongyang on Tuesday, blaming “sloppy building” and “irresponsible supervision and control.” It said there were “human casualties” but did not give figures. | Earlier Sunday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that the accident occurred at an apartment construction site in the Pyongchon district of Pyongyang on Tuesday, blaming “sloppy building” and “irresponsible supervision and control.” It said there were “human casualties” but did not give figures. |
| But confirming the news to the South Korean news media on condition of anonymity, an official at the Ministry of Unification in Seoul said on Sunday that “a considerable number of people” may have died in the accident. | But confirming the news to the South Korean news media on condition of anonymity, an official at the Ministry of Unification in Seoul said on Sunday that “a considerable number of people” may have died in the accident. |
| The North Korean news agency said that the Pyongyang government had organized a major rescue operation. It also reported a parade of senior government and ruling Workers’ Party officials apologizing to the bereaved families and district residents. | The North Korean news agency said that the Pyongyang government had organized a major rescue operation. It also reported a parade of senior government and ruling Workers’ Party officials apologizing to the bereaved families and district residents. |
| The South Korean official said that the 23-story building was under construction but was believed to have already housed as many as 92 families. In the North, families often move into an apartment building even before it is completed, the official said. | The South Korean official said that the 23-story building was under construction but was believed to have already housed as many as 92 families. In the North, families often move into an apartment building even before it is completed, the official said. |
| According to the North Korean news agency, the rescue operation ended Saturday. On Sunday, the Rodong Sinmun, the main party newspaper, and other North Korean news media carried photos showing senior officials bowing in apology before what appeared to be a crowd of district residents gathered in a construction site. | According to the North Korean news agency, the rescue operation ended Saturday. On Sunday, the Rodong Sinmun, the main party newspaper, and other North Korean news media carried photos showing senior officials bowing in apology before what appeared to be a crowd of district residents gathered in a construction site. |
| Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, “sat up all night, feeling painful after being told about the accident,” the North Korean report quoted Kim Su-gil, a senior party secretary in Pyongyang, as saying. | Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, “sat up all night, feeling painful after being told about the accident,” the North Korean report quoted Kim Su-gil, a senior party secretary in Pyongyang, as saying. |
| Under Kim Jong-un’s rule, North Korea has initiated a slew of building projects, including a ski resort, amusement parks and tall apartment buildings in Pyongyang and elsewhere. Pyongyang is home to those most loyal to Mr. Kim’s government. | Under Kim Jong-un’s rule, North Korea has initiated a slew of building projects, including a ski resort, amusement parks and tall apartment buildings in Pyongyang and elsewhere. Pyongyang is home to those most loyal to Mr. Kim’s government. |
| His government emphasized speed in building projects, setting deadlines and exhorting soldiers and workers at the work sites to finish their tasks ahead of time. | His government emphasized speed in building projects, setting deadlines and exhorting soldiers and workers at the work sites to finish their tasks ahead of time. |
| Although defectors from the North have reported frequent building accidents, it is rare for its government to report them. The South Korean news media speculated that the North’s swift reporting of the accident may indicate a high death toll. The last time North Korea admitted to a major accident was in 2004, when an explosion at a train station in Ryongchon, a city near the border with China, killed or injured hundreds of people. | |
| Compared with his reclusive late father, Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un has also been casting himself as a hands-on leader more perceptive about the people’s well-being. The North’s state-run news media often shows him meeting ordinary people and pointing out mistakes committed by the local government and party officials. | Compared with his reclusive late father, Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un has also been casting himself as a hands-on leader more perceptive about the people’s well-being. The North’s state-run news media often shows him meeting ordinary people and pointing out mistakes committed by the local government and party officials. |
| The report of the North Korean accident came as South Korea was struggling to overcome the trauma of the sinking of a ferry on April 16 that left 304 people dead or missing, the vast majority of them high school students. North Korea has recently cited the ferry disaster in its criticism of South Korea. The South Korean government of President Park Geun-hye has been under growing public pressure for failing to prevent the disaster and mishandling the rescue operations. | The report of the North Korean accident came as South Korea was struggling to overcome the trauma of the sinking of a ferry on April 16 that left 304 people dead or missing, the vast majority of them high school students. North Korea has recently cited the ferry disaster in its criticism of South Korea. The South Korean government of President Park Geun-hye has been under growing public pressure for failing to prevent the disaster and mishandling the rescue operations. |
| Thousands of people holding candles rallied in central Seoul on Saturday evening, some of them calling on Ms. Park to step down. The police blocked hundreds of them from marching on her presidential palace and detained 115 for questioning. | Thousands of people holding candles rallied in central Seoul on Saturday evening, some of them calling on Ms. Park to step down. The police blocked hundreds of them from marching on her presidential palace and detained 115 for questioning. |
| “We won’t stay put!” read some of the signs held by antigovernment protesters, who said they could no longer trust Ms. Park’s government. Hundreds of students were trapped inside the ferry after the ship’s crew repeatedly urged them to stay put. The first coast guard officials to arrive at the scene made little effort to reach inside the dangerously listing vessel. | “We won’t stay put!” read some of the signs held by antigovernment protesters, who said they could no longer trust Ms. Park’s government. Hundreds of students were trapped inside the ferry after the ship’s crew repeatedly urged them to stay put. The first coast guard officials to arrive at the scene made little effort to reach inside the dangerously listing vessel. |