Thousands hit by flooding in North Korea

More than 5,000 people trapped by flooding in northwest North Korea were rescued through airlifts and other evacuation methods overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, as reported by state media on Monday. The heavy rainfall on Saturday had caused a river on the North Korean-Chinese border to reach dangerous levels, resulting in "a grave crisis," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The evacuation efforts in Sinuiju city and Uiju town, where the flooding had isolated residents, involved about 10 military helicopters and navy boats. Each helicopter made several flights despite challenging weather conditions, ultimately airlifting 4,200 people. KCNA did not provide details on any casualties or the extent of the damage caused by the flooding.

Kim Jong Un personally guided the evacuation operations on Sunday, ensuring that food and other necessities were provided to those affected and setting tasks for recovery and relief efforts. He praised the rescue efforts as "miraculous," highlighting that over 5,000 people were saved.

North Korea often faces severe damage from summer floods due to poor drainage systems, deforestation, and outdated infrastructure. In 2020, typhoons and torrential rains were among the multiple crises exacerbated by strict pandemic-related restrictions and UN sanctions over the country's nuclear weapons program.

During his visit to the flooded region, Kim criticized officials for their inadequate preparation and response to the torrential rains, despite previous directives to improve disaster prevention measures. He condemned the officials' defeatist attitudes towards natural disasters, emphasizing that their failure to act confidently in disaster prevention work was unacceptable.

Kim also pointed out that the emergency response agency and the Ministry of Public Security were unaware of the exact populations in the flood-affected areas, leading to the number of people rescued being higher than initially expected. He stressed the importance of responsibility in ensuring the safety of the people and not relying on chance in disaster management.