SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — More than 5,000 people isolated by floods in northwestern North Korea have been rescued in airlifts and other evacuation efforts overseen by the leader Kim Jong Unstate media reported on Monday.
Saturday’s heavy rains caused a river on the border between North Korea and China to surpass a dangerous level and created “a serious crisis”, the official Korean Central News Agency said.
About 10 military helicopters and navy and government boats were mobilized for evacuation efforts in the towns of Sinuiju and Uiju, where flooding has isolated residents.
KCNA did not mention any deaths or how much damage the floods caused. He said each of about 10 helicopters made several struggles to transport residents despite the bad weather, ultimately rescuing 4,200 of the affected people by airlift.
He said Kim guided evacuation work on Sunday, ordered food and other necessities to be provided to affected people and set tasks for recovery and relief work.
KCNA cited Kim as calling the rescue work “miraculous” as more than 5,000 people were saved through the efforts.
Summer floods in North Korea often cause serious damage to agricultural land due to poor drainage, deforestation and deteriorating infrastructure. Typhoons and torrential rains in 2020 were among difficulties that Kim previously said had created “multiple crises” at home, along with draconian pandemic-related restrictions and UN sanctions over his nuclear weapons program.
During his weekend visit to the flooded region, Kim also chided authorities for letting their guard down, even though he ordered efforts to prevent flood damage more than once, KCNA said.
“They, overcome by defeatism in fighting nature, do not confidently participate in disaster prevention work, just waiting for a chance from heaven,” Kim said, according to KCNA.
Kim stressed that the irresponsible attitude of those in charge of ensuring people’s safety should not be ignored. He said the Northern emergency response agency and the Ministry of Public Security did not even know the exact populations of the flood-hit areas, so the number of people rescued was higher than expected.
Kim’s criticism could be seen as an effort to shift blame while establishing his own image as a leader who cares about his people as North Korea struggles with economic hardship and international isolation, they say. the observers.
