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| A North Korean mine/ Korea Times file |
By Yi Whan-woo
Seven miners were killed in an accident at a coal mine in South Hamgyong Province, according to sources familiar with the matter last week.
The accident occurred in a late December night, after a cable used to pull workers up from the bottom of the mineshaft snapped.
"The bodies of the dead workers were crushed into pieces. It was so tragic to see," a source said.
The administrators of the mine attributed "carelessness" by one of the dead miners as the cause of the accident.
The mine is rich with zinc. It underwent redevelopment until last year, following the filling in of the bottom of the mineshaft three years ago making mining impossible.
The North Korean authorities rushed the workers to restore the area under the title, "1,000-day campaign."
"Those who were killed were under pressure to fulfill their duty, no matter whether the working environment was safe or not," the source said.
He said the miners had to work from early morning to midnight without rest.
A different source said the remaining workers are upset with the authorities for holding one of the dead miners responsible, saying "This was only possible because he was from a poor, powerless family."
