North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited flood-hit areas near the Amnok River and guided an operation to rescue around 5,000 isolated residents with the military’s helicopters, Pyongyang’s state media reported Monday.

Kim visited flood-ravaged areas in Sinuiju City and Uiju County of North Phyongan Province on Sunday, after a record downpour hit the northern border of North Korea, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North Korea is vulnerable to flash flooding and heavy rain due to poor irrigation and deforestation.

More than 5,000 inhabitants were isolated in areas vulnerable to flooding in the North’s border city and the county, as the water level of the Amnok River, also known as the Yalu River, surged to a dangerous level, the report said.

In accordance with Kim’s order, the Air Force mobilized its ten-odd helicopters to make more than 20 rounds of shuttle flights to rescue residents.

The North’s leader “repeatedly stressed the need to rescue everyone. He also saw to it that reconn
aissance flights were reorganized several times even in the areas where the rescue was completed,” the KCNA said.

Kim also chided officials for failure to prevent damage from the latest heavy rains even as he has ordered thorough measures to cope with natural disasters.

“He seriously pointed out that what should not be overlooked any longer is just the irresponsible and non-militant attitude of the public security organ responsible for thoroughly ensuring the life and security of the people,” the KCNA said.

North Korea held a crisis response meeting on July 22 to discuss measures to minimize damage that natural disasters could cause to crops and other agricultural products.

Kim designated some areas along the Amnok River in the North Phyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces as “areas of special-level disaster emergency,” and ordered related agencies to make all-out efforts to prevent damage from potential downpours and focus on recovery work.

Source: Yonhap News Agency