North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un allegedly handed down the harsh punishment after he was told the flower named after his late father Kim Jong-il – would not be ready in time for the former leader’s birthday
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Kim Jong-un sent a group of gardeners to labor camps because some flowers didn’t bloom in time for his dad’s birthday, it has been reported.
The North Korean dictator is said to have made the decision after he was told the ‘Kimjongilia’ Begonias – a flower named after his late father Kim Jong-il – would not be ready in time for the former leader’s birthday.
The flowers were meant to be a centerpiece for a huge celebration tomorrow – which is marked as the Day of the Shining Star.
A man in his 50s from Samsu County, who has only been identified as Han, was reportedly managing the greenhouse growing the Kimilsungias and Kimjongilias.
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Image:
Gamma Rapho via Getty Images)
He was sentenced to six months in a labor camp, according to reports.
Kimjongilias, also known as the “immortal flower”, were created in 1988 by Japanese botanist Kamo Mototeru to mark the former leader’s birthday.
The flower has grown in significance since the passing of the former North Korean leader in 2011.
Han was reportedly ordered to make sure the flowers would be ready in time for both the Day of the Sun (a day to mark North Korea founder Kim Il-sung’s birthday) and the Day of the Shining Star.
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Image:
Gamma Rapho via Getty Images)
This would have required the temperature and humidity of the greenhouse to be monitored carefully.
However, due to a reported lack of firewood, this wasn’t possible and they failed to bloom in time.
The gardeners have allegedly been accused of neglecting the flowers.
A source told Daily NK News: “Economic activity decreased greatly due to the strengthening of the country’s emergency disease-control measures, which led many Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia greenhouses to become neglected.
“But now they’re suddenly saying that the Kimjongilia flowers have to be grown in time for the event, so how is Han supposed to grow them?”
The source went on: “Other employees have been punished.
“A flower grower surnamed Kim [in her 40s] was called in every day to the county party committee to report on the state of the flowers and to write self-criticism reports.”
Another man only known as Choi was said to be in charge of the boilers and was allegedly sentenced to three months in the labor camps for not “properly setting the temperature”.
It is not the first time there have been difficulties growing the flowers – and they have previously been imported from China as a result.
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