Latest news North Korea admits severe damage from flooding

In North Korea, floods have caused severe damage in the northwest of the country. According to the state news agency KCNA, over 4,000 households have been affected along the border town of Sinuiju near China and almost 3,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged. KCNA did not provide any information on possible casualties.

Leader Kim Jong Un, who visited the flooded areas on site, also admitted serious mistakes in preventive disaster control. He ordered the authorities to severely punish those who had neglected their responsibilities. According to KCNA, Kim also appointed a new minister for public security, Pang Tu Sop, as well as a new party leadership for the flood-hit province of North Pyongan. The personnel rochade points to a wave of purges.

North Korea is considered particularly susceptible to flooding due to the high rate of deforestation in its forest areas.