When the Amnokgang Flood Broke Out... Kim Jong-un Scolds Officials for "Serious Carelessness"

Heavy Rain Raises Amnokgang River Level, Thousands Face Isolation Risk
Kim Jong-un Seen Inspecting Site in Lexus

Thousands of residents have reportedly been isolated due to severe flooding near the Amnok River in North Korea. While North Korea suffers from chronic floods and droughts due to a lack of infrastructure, Chairman Kim Jong Un harshly reprimanded officials at the flood damage site for failing to prevent the damage.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the flood damage sites in Sinuiju City and Uiju County, North Pyongan Province, on the 28th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 29th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 29th, Chairman Kim ordered the military to conduct rescue operations when over 5,000 residents of Sinuiju and Uiju in North Pyongan Province faced isolation due to rising water levels of the Amnok River caused by heavy rain on the 27th. He visited the damage site the day before. Jo Yong Won and Pak Tae Song, secretaries of the Workers' Party Central Committee, accompanied him. At the site, Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, Kang Sun Nam, Minister of Defense, and Jong Kyong Taek, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, greeted Chairman Kim.

Photos released by the news agency show a village that appears to be the flood site, with water reaching up to the roofs of houses. North Korean media posted images of Chairman Kim inspecting the damage site directly while riding in a large SUV presumed to be a Lexus. The wheels of the vehicle he was in were also submerged in water.

After arriving at the airfield, Chairman Kim received a report on the rescue situation from military commanders and observed helicopters returning to the airfield after rescuing residents. He was also seen sitting alone on a chair placed in the middle of the airfield wearing a workers' uniform, with his shirt untucked.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the flood damage sites in Sinuiju City and Uiju County, North Pyongan Province, on the 28th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 29th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The news agency reported that "(Chairman Kim) ordered that no one be left behind and that everyone must be rescued unconditionally, and repeatedly instructed reconnaissance to be conducted again to ensure no one remained in evacuated areas." He unleashed criticism toward state agencies and local officials. Despite repeatedly ordering the convening of the National Emergency Crisis Response Committee on the 22nd and preparing measures against heavy rain, floods, and typhoons, prevention had failed.

Chairman Kim criticized, "The irresponsibility and non-combatant attitude of social safety institutions, which must guarantee the safety of the people's lives, can no longer be tolerated," adding, "The gangster mentality and opportunism of key officials have reached a truly serious level." He especially reiterated his criticism while explaining the reason for mobilizing the military in rescue operations, stating that disaster prevention agencies were helpless because they did not even have proper rescue equipment.

He further pointed out, "The reason natural disasters have not yet been eradicated is because people think it is the fault of nature and inevitable, falling into defeatism, not confidently engaging in disaster prevention work, and only looking to the sky hoping for a lucky break."

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the flood damage sites in Sinuiju City and Uiju County, North Pyongan Province, on the 28th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 29th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chairman Kim declared the Amnok River adjacent areas including North Pyongan Province, Jagang Province, and Yanggang Province as 'special emergency disaster zones' and issued a total mobilization order for damage prevention and recovery projects to the Cabinet, committees, provinces, central agencies, safety, and armed forces agencies. Earlier, due to the influence of the monsoon front, heavy rain poured in North Pyongan Province and Jagang Province, with Wonsan receiving 617 mm and Cheonma 598 mm of rainfall from midnight on the 25th to 5 a.m. on the 28th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.