North Korea has issued a nationwide wildfire risk advisory, citing strong spring winds and an increased likelihood of wildfires. It is the first time the country has issued such a warning, and the move appears to reflect heightened caution in response to the recent record-breaking wildfire in South Korea.
According to Korean Central Television (KCTV), the advisory will remain in effect from March 29 to April 3 in most regions, including Pyongyang, South and North Pyongan Provinces, and Nampo. For the South and North Hwanghae and South and North Hamgyong Provinces, the warning is valid until March 31.
KCTV explained, “This spring, with lower precipitation than usual and frequent strong winds, the weather has become drier than in previous years, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires.” The station added, “Wildfire risk advisories have been issued in multiple areas.”
While North Korea consistently calls for vigilant wildfire prevention during the spring—typically the season with the highest risk—issuing an official warning is highly unusual.
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification stated, “North Korean media have previously reported on wildfire risks, but this is the first time a formal advisory of this kind has been issued, to our knowledge.”
Although no recent reports of wildfires in North Korea have emerged, the issuance of an advisory is seen as a response to the massive wildfire that recently swept through South Korea.
On March 21, a wildfire broke out in Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, rapidly spreading and devastating forest land equivalent to about 80 percent of Seoul’s total area. The fire claimed 30 lives, marking the worst wildfire disaster in South Korea’s history.
North Korean media did not cover the South Korean wildfire until March 28, when a brief four-sentence article noted, “Damage continues to grow from a wildfire that broke out last weekend in puppet South Korea.”
The wildfire in South Korea spread quickly due to dry air and strong winds—weather patterns that have also drawn attention from North Korean authorities. A director from the State Hydro-Meteorological Administration (North Korea’s national weather service) appeared on television, warning, “Conditions have formed for strong winds to blow frequently across our country,” and adding, “Whereas wildfire risks were previously limited to certain areas, this year, except for some northern inland regions, most areas are now at high risk.”
The head of the agency also told the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in an interview, “With dry soil, arid air, and frequent strong winds, wildfire risk is extremely high in most areas. These conditions are expected to persist through early April.”
Given North Korea’s limited access to wildfire suppression equipment and weak disaster response system, the country appears to focus heavily on prevention and early containment. State media continue to emphasize, “Authorities responsible for forest management and other relevant sectors must implement robust wildfire prevention measures,” and “Strict regulation must be enforced to control access to forest areas, and surveillance and notification systems must be thoroughly organized for high-risk zones.”