North Korea, which experienced severe flooding last year, is emphasizing disaster preparedness.
Korean Central Television reported on the 18th that "various regions are recognizing the reality of disaster-related abnormal weather and are actively pursuing projects to respond to it effectively."
Kim Hyun-jun, a member of the Disaster Prevention Agency, said in an interview that "since the 14th, there has been significant rainfall in the eastern coastal regions, including Hamgyeongbuk-do and Gangwon-do, with observed precipitation exceeding 100 mm at particular points in Kyongheung, Hamgyeongbuk-do, and Goseong, Gangwon-do."
He emphasized, "This reality demands that our workers exercise the utmost tension and awareness now more than ever and actively and responsibly carry out disaster response tasks in their regions and parties."
The Disaster Prevention Agency is a newly identified organization set up after the flooding damages in July last year along the Yalu River. The Ministry of Unification estimates that North Korea may have changed the National Emergency Disaster Committee into an expedited agency to concentrate responsibility and authority for disaster response.
It also introduced flood prevention projects conducted across the country during the monsoon season. The broadcast noted that "workers in the agricultural institutional sector are becoming more vigilant" and reported that the planned excavation project for major rivers has been over 90% completed this year.
Promotional efforts for crop protection measures, drainage inspections, and projects to prevent the loss of farmland are taking place nationwide, including in Pyongyang and Hwanghae-namdo. The broadcast urged, "All workers and employees must always keep in mind that complacency and carelessness can lead to irreparable consequences and must ensure that there are no minor gaps in the disaster prevention projects in their regions through thorough measures."
The ruling party's publication, Labor Newspaper, is urging residents to prepare for potential heavy rain as forecasts predict downpours, raising awareness. In an article dated the 18th titled "Let's ensure preparedness in the face of disaster-related climates, bearing in mind the heavy responsibilities we hold to the Party, State, and people," the newspaper reported that "activities of Party organizations to respond to disaster-related climates have become more active now that we have entered the monsoon season."
A day earlier, on the 17th, it was noted that "no minor gaps can be tolerated in disaster prevention efforts" and urged, "Let's check ten times and inspect a hundred times." On the 14th, it questioned whether the flooding that occurred in July last year in Jagang-do and other areas was indeed the fault of nature, pointing out that it was a "man-made disaster."
According to North Korean media, in the process of recovery projects carried out over approximately four months in Pyonganbuk-do, Jagang-do, and Yanggang-do after the flooding damages that occurred last July, over 15,000 new dwellings were built and about 6,000 existing dwellings were repaired. Although specifics were not disclosed, it is presumed that there were significant human casualties.