North Korea has been consistently urging preparation for natural disasters, including summer monsoons and typhoons.
On Friday, the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of North Korea, published a front-page article titled “Let’s Fully Commit to Our Responsibilities for the Party, State, and People in Preparing for Disaster-Prone Weather.” The article called for comprehensive measures to be taken in anticipation of the rainy season.
The newspaper emphasized that as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, the critical role of Party organizations and officials becomes increasingly important.
Notably, the newspaper underscored that establishing disaster prevention measures is an integral part of political work.
The article stated that it is time for Party organizations and officials to prove their worth to the Party, state, and people. It continued by saying that implementing thorough disaster prevention measures is not merely an economic task; it is a crucial political endeavor to safeguard the lives of the people, protect national resources, and ensure the success of the 80th anniversary of the Party’s founding and the 9th Party Congress.
As the country approaches the second half of the year, to complete its five-year economic development plan, the newspaper cautioned that if it neglects efforts to address natural disasters and suffers even minor losses, all its past victories and achievements could be nullified, creating significant obstacles to its progress toward the 9th Party Congress.
Last summer, heavy rains caused the Yalu River to flood, resulting in the inundation of over 400 homes and roads in North Pyongan and Chagang provinces, leading to substantial casualties.
Since Monday, heavy rainfall has persisted across North Korea, and authorities appear to be fully committed to implementing sector-specific response measures.
In a previous article titled “No Minor Oversight Can Be Allowed in Disaster Prevention Work,” the newspaper urged to check ten times and inspect a hundred times. It emphasized that a responsible attitude is crucial in protecting regional safety and the lives and property of the people from the fury of nature.