Pyongyang: North Korea on Thursday urged ranking officials to make thorough preparations as heavy monsoon rain is expected to soak the country this week. The call to action highlights the seriousness with which the nation is approaching the potential impacts of the weather on its infrastructure and the safety of its citizens.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the North's most widely read newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, emphasized the need for "maximum vigilance and a prompt response posture." The publication warned that any defenselessness or negligence in the face of heavy rain is indicative of a lack of responsibility, poor crisis management, or an ideological lapse. The newspaper stressed the importance of not taking natural disasters lightly, as they are directly connected to the lives of the people and the safety of the country.
South Korea's weather agency has forecast that the summer monsoonal front, after passing over the southern regions of the Korean Peninsula, is moving northward. It is expected to bring up to 150 millimeters of rain to some parts of North Korea from Thursday through Saturday, further underscoring the need for preparedness.
In July of the previous year, North Korea's northwestern provinces of North Phyongan and Jagang experienced massive flooding due to heavy seasonal rain. The flooding prompted Leader Kim Jong-un to visit flood-damaged Sinuiju in the region, resulting in the dismissal of the then social security minister and a provincial secretary from their posts. This history of severe weather impact underlines the importance of the current warnings and preparations.