Despite the severe water shortage in North

Korea from the spring drought that has even suspended operations at major power

plants, the country has been busy supplying water to Pyongyang’s Munsu Waterpark and other leisure facilities rather than to its

people, according to a local source. The Munsu Waterpark and Neungra Theme Park

are venues widely promoted by the state as “legacies” of its leader Kim Jong Eun.

“We’re not simply

talking about your average household, the central district apartments have not

even been able to receive a proper supply of water,” a

Pyongyang-based source told the Daily NK on Wednesday. “The water from the Taedong River is being supplied first to the

theme park or waterpark.”

The severe drought this spring crippled

North Korea’s water supply, even disrupting train

services. Pyongyang, known as the “revolutionary

capital,” which always receives priority when it comes

to public resources, has also been struggling with a lag in power and water,

according to the source.

This has led to criticism that the state

only focuses on promoting Kim Jong Eun’s projects,

instead of improving the lives of its people as it vowed the waterpark would

help achieve. Since assuming power, Kim has ordered construction of multiple

leisure facilities in his effort to build up a “people-friendly” image.

“As the weather gets colder, no one is even

visiting these waterparks, but the water supply is the same as in the summer,” the source said. “Summertime operations

aside, more people these days are questioning why the park is open at a time

like this.”

“Some have even suggested residents should

have priority over the water that goes to those places [waterpark, theme park],” he asserted.

As this situation continues, more Party

cadres who live in apartments in the central districts of Pyongyang are

actively raising questions: they may have won the rights of residency in the

affluent, central area using their privileges as a Party member, but without

the proper water supply, living there becomes more of an inconvenience.

“The cadres that tried so hard to move into

these new buildings have been taken aback since they can’t get water,” the source explained. “Some have even said they would rather move to the outskirts of

Pyongyang instead of live in the apartments, where it’s

hard to even get your own water.”

In terms of electricity, the source reported, “[On Pyongyang’s outskirts] there was no

power all last month, except for Chuseok [the traditional harvest festival of the Korean people] and September 9th

[National Foundation Day]. This month, we’ve have a

spotty supply following Party Foundation Day [10th].”

He added, “Even in the central area of Pyongyang, the

power isn’t running consistently, so there are times

when the entire city is just blanketed in darkness.”