As North Korea endures an arctic blast that has lasted since New Year’s, bursting pipes have disrupted the water supply in Ryanggang province.
“With the temperature hovering around 20 degrees below zero, pipes have ruptured near Samjiyon and Taehongdan county, interrupting the water supply and endangering citizens’ lives,” a source in the province told Daily NK recently.
According to the source, water was still not flowing in Samjiyon and Taehongdan on Jan. 12, after pipes burst early in the month.
Long lines have formed at reservoirs, pump stations, and wells as people wait, sometimes until the early morning, for a chance to draw water. During the long wait, people puff on their freezing hands, their breath visible in the frigid air.
In the grueling struggle to draw water, teenagers and the elderly are more commonly seen than healthy men and women.
“They’re the ones who end up drawing water since working-age men and women have to go to the office or market to make a living. It’s pitiful to see young children shivering by the well until the early hours, determined to help their parents,” the source said.
Authorities fail to respond as injuries mount
Despite these circumstances, authorities have not even identified the issue with the pipes, let alone repaired them.
“Several days have gone by since the water supply was cut off, but nothing has been done. Locals have stopped expecting anything from the authorities,” the source said.
“Making matters worse is that the steep slopes are slick with ice, so people often slip and fall while pulling sleighs loaded with water buckets up and down the slopes.”
With water so precious, people are desperate to hold onto the buckets even when they fall. That often leads to injuries like broken arms and legs.
Over the past few days, growing numbers of elderly have been laid up at home or have visited the doctor over fractured bones.
But well-off officials and the wealthy entrepreneurs known as donju can easily sidestep the water shortage by hiring workers to draw their water or paying a water truck to make a delivery. That unavoidable contrast is kindling resentment among members of vulnerable groups.
“This unfortunate situation has provoked resounding criticism from the less fortunate members of society. They want officials to just fix the pipes instead of holding interminable meetings. People complain that the government is always talking up some grand vision for the future when people just want drinking water and a hot meal,” the source said.
According to weather data made available by the Korea Meteorological Administration in South Korea, Samjiyon in Ryanggang province had lows ranging from -19 to -31 degrees Celsius (-2 to -24 degrees Fahrenheit) and average temperatures ranging from -10 to -24 degrees Celsius (14 to -11 degrees Fahrenheit) between Jan. 1 and 10.
January 17, 2026 at 06:15AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)