North Korea was found on the 12th to be releasing water from Hwanggang Dam in the upper reaches of the Imjin River.
According to Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province and others, at about 12 a.m. that day, the water level at Pilseung Bridge on the southern limit line of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the Imjin River in Yeoncheon County recorded 1 meter. This exceeds the evacuation threshold for river visitors.
When the Pilseung Bridge water level exceeds 1 meter, river visitors are evacuated; at 2 meters, non-flood season evacuation for the protection of life is issued.
As of 6:20 a.m. that day, the Pilseung Bridge water level was at 1.7 meters.
Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province and Yeoncheon County sent disaster text alerts to river visitors along the Imjin River and to local residents, notifying them to evacuate.
About 60% of the Imjin River basin lies in North Korea. The remainder lies in South Korea.
The river flows through Pilseung Bridge and down into South Korea, and it was reported that there was no prior notice from the North before the release.