hankyoreh

Torrential rainfall has pounded North Korea since August 7 and international aid organizations as well as the South Korean government are planning to launch an emergency relief effort for the communist nation.

According to a report by North Korea’s state-run Korea Central News Agency on August 14, hundreds of North Koreans have died or are missing and the houses of over 63,000 families have been destroyed or submerged. The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that there are more than 300,000 flood victims in North Korea.

During the flood disaster that hit the country last July, about 150 died or were missing and 36,000 houses were destroyed or submerged. This year, approximately 800 public buildings and 500 bridges have been destroyed, compared to the 500 buildings and 80 bridges that were destroyed last year.

The most notable thing about this year’s flooding is that a heavy amount of rainfall has inundated Pyongyang. Subway service has been cut off and a part of the Botonggang Hotel and walking paths alongside Daedong River have been flooded.

The KCNA reported on August 13 that the amount of rainfall recorded as of August 11 was equal to that of the August 1967 flood that submerged most of downtown Pyongyang.

Regions which were seriously hit last year have been flooded again this year. According to North Korean media outlets, many casualties have been reported and the homes of about 20,000 families have been completely or partially destroyed or submerged in Gangwon Province, which was badly damaged last year.

The South Korean government announced that it is discussing possible ways of aiding North Korean flood victims. The government is also reported to be watching the situation in the North in order to assess the flood’s impact on the upcoming inter-Korean summit, countermeasures for which were discussed during working-level talks held on August 14. A considerable number of people in the North Korean government are expected to be deployed for the relief effort, which could mean that the North will experience administrative and financial difficulties in preparing for the summit.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said that it had provided 500 bags of relief supplies, including rain clothes, blankets, cooking utensils and drinking water, but noted the urgency of the disaster by announcing that more aid is needed. The ICRC has appealed for additional financial support to further aid North Korea’s flood victims.