The rainy season has begun in earnest across the Korean Peninsula: on the 3rd Chosun Central News Agency reported on extended periods of rainfall in a number of areas. Given the lack of proper facilities to deal with the annual high volume rains, North Korean civilians are once again concerned about the damage that the rains could do.
According to a source from northerly Yangkang Province, people who suffered in the floods that beset North Korea last year are particularly worried, but most have largely given up trying to build flood defenses. There has been talk of preparation in the media, too, but little practical action.
“People living around Baekcheol Bridge in Yeonpung-dong [an area of Hyesan] who saw damage in the floods last year are sweating over being inundated once again,” the source explained. “But even if they build up defenses of rock and mud, they know that the waters will break them down, so they are just worrying about it; not doing anything.”
“In Kim Jong Suk County a number of people died or were injured in landslides last year,” the source recalled. “But that damage has been ignored and is not yet fixed, so the people there are really uncomfortable. There is no policy in place from the authorities, so people expect more harm to come their way.”
The source also revealed news of poor weather forecasting, telling the story of people, mobilized to go rogueing for weeds in local fields, being suddenly rained upon and returning home soaked. They had believed Chosun Central News Agency, which said it would not rain.
