North Korea has emphasized the importance of science and technology in preparing for potential large-scale flood damage ahead of the upcoming rainy season.
According to Rodong Sinmun, authorities are intensifying efforts to implement scientific and technological countermeasures aimed at minimizing damage from disaster-related weather events, such as landslides and floods.
The report stated that numerous researchers from the State Academy of Sciences, Kim Il Sung University, and Kim Chaek University of Technology are actively involved in these initiatives.
It noted that in April, dozens of officials and scientists from the National Science and Technology Commission visited areas that experienced landslides last year to analyze their causes and assess the risk of recurrence. Based on those findings, they devised landslide prevention strategies and are also researching to predict potential flooding in downstream areas of reservoirs.
The report stressed that rather than resigning themselves to the destructive forces of nature, officials are advocating for a proactive, science-based approach to enhance disaster response capabilities across all sectors and institutions.
In addition, the article introduced several technological developments as outcomes of this scientific push, such as decentralized lightning rods, early warning systems for heavy rain and floods at the county level, and a seed coating agent called Pungnyeonmo No. 1.
The report highlighted that the agricultural sector, which recent instances of extreme weather have severely impacted, has benefited from the new seed coating agent, which is said to have improved rice seedling cultivation and received favorable reviews from farms nationwide.
North Korea reportedly faces extensive human and material losses due to torrential rains almost every summer. In July last year, flooding along the Yalu River led to numerous fatalities and missing persons, with homes swept away. Recovery efforts are reportedly still underway.
Against this backdrop, the regime appears to be committed to thoroughly preparing for disaster-related climate anomalies this year. Rodong Sinmun had also previously called for the establishment of robust monitoring, alert, and emergency response systems to better manage crises.