PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korea has deployed military helicopters to rescue thousands of people stranded by severe flooding, state media reported on Monday.
Leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the operation, which involved 10 helicopters and navy lifeboats. He praised the pilots but reprimanded officials for their inadequate preparation and response to the torrential rains.
The country has experienced record-breaking rainfall, with Kaesong City receiving an unprecedented 463 mm (18.2 inches) in one day in July. This was the highest recorded rainfall in North Korea in 29 years, according to South Korea’s meteorological administration.
North Korea’s weak infrastructure and deforestation have made it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters like flooding. In response to the recent rains, North Korea held a crisis meeting to discuss strategies to mitigate the impact on agriculture.
The North has also taken measures to prevent flooding by releasing water from the Hwanggang Dam near the inter-Korean border, which has raised concerns in South Korea. Early in July, South Korea’s environment ministry noted that North Korea likely discharged water from the dam without prior notification.
Relations between the two Koreas have deteriorated significantly, with North Korea cutting off all official communication links in 2020 and blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office. Since April 2023, Pyongyang has not responded to inter-Korean hotline calls. This strained relationship further complicates coordinated disaster response efforts between the two nations.
