Kim Jong inspects flood affected area in North Korea
‘A grave crisis’
More than 5,000 people were isolated by flooding in northwest North Korea. Heavy rainfall on Saturday had caused a river on the North Korean-Chinese border to exceed a dangerous level and created “a grave crisis,” the official Korean Central News Agency said. (Image credit: PTI)
Kim ordered food and other necessities for the affected
The official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim guided the evacuation works on Sunday, ordered food and other necessities to be provided to affected people, and set tasks for recovery and relief works. (Image source: AFP)
Over 10 military helicopters mobilised for rescue operations
Over 5,000 people stranded by flooding in northwest North Korea have been rescued through airlifts and other evacuation efforts supervised by leader Kim Jong Un. About 10 military helicopters and navy and government boats were mobilised for the evacuation efforts in Sinuiju city and Uiju town, where flooding had isolated residents. (Image source: AP)
Nearly 4200 people airlifted
KCNA reported that each of the approximately 10 helicopters made several flights to evacuate residents despite the bad weather, ultimately rescuing 4,200 of the affected people by airlift. (Image source: AFP)
Kim Jong Un criticises the agencies for poor flood response and data errors
Kim stressed that the irresponsible attitude of those tasked with ensuring people's safety should not be overlooked. He said the North’s emergency response agency and the Ministry of Public Security didn’t even know the exact populations of the flood-hit areas, so the number of people rescued was larger than expected. (Image source: AP)
Kim criticises officials for neglecting flood prevention efforts
During Kim’s weekend visit to the flooded region, he scolded officials for lowering their guard, though he had ordered efforts to prevent flood damage more than once, KCNA said. “They, seized with defeatism at combat with nature, do not confidently turn out in the disaster prevention work, only expecting a chance from the sky,” Kim said. (Image source: Reuters)
A move to shift the blame & boost leadership image.
Kim’s criticism could be seen as an effort to shift blame while establishing his own image as a leader caring about his people while North Korea struggles with economic difficulties and international isolation, observers say. (Image source: AFP)
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