Pyongyang: North Korea is mobilizing students in the northern border province of Ryanggang to collect rocks daily to construct flood prevention walls as the region prepares for the upcoming monsoon season. This initiative follows the devastating floods of last year.
According to Radio Free Asia, Last July, significant areas along the Amnok River, near North Korea's border with China, experienced extensive damage, leading authorities to expedite flood prevention measures this year. The monsoon season, typically starting in June and lasting until September, poses a serious threat, as last year over 1,000 people were reported killed or missing due to the floods. Additionally, North Korea reportedly executed several officials held responsible for the mismanagement.
Students from various areas, including Yeondu-dong, Yeonpung-dong, and Songbong-dong in Wiyeon District of Hyesan City, are required to gather rocks the size of soccer balls daily between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., following their morning classes. These rocks are then transported to the construction site of an embankment in the upper reaches of the Geumsan River, which also experienced severe flooding last year.
The construction of the Geumsan River embankment is slated to continue until the end of June. However, delays are anticipated due to a shortage of stones needed for the walls. To address this shortfall, students from neighborhoods such as Seonghu-dong and Hyesan-dong are involved in stone collection at the old quarry in Yeonbong-dong, whereas those from areas like Masan-dong and Chun-dong search quarries at Hyesan Youth Mine.
The rigorous rock gathering has resulted in numerous accidents and health issues among students, sparking protests by concerned parents. Injuries such as hand and foot wounds and exhaustion-induced nosebleeds at night have been reported, causing some families to keep their children from participating.
North Korean state media reported heavy rainfall in Pyongyang and several northern and central provinces, prompting weather authorities to issue alerts across multiple regions. Pyongyang alone recorded 140 millimeters of rain within a 27-hour period, heightening concerns of potential flooding.