Despite repeated requests from the South Korean government for prior notification, it was confirmed on Tuesday that North Korea has once again released water from the Hwanggang Dam upstream of the Imjin River without authorization.
The Ministry of Unification stated that it estimates that the water release from the Hwanggang Dam continued from July 18 and ceased on July 27, adding that the North has not notified them about the dam’s water release.
Previously, the government announced that North Korea had released water from the Hwanggang Dam twice—on June 25 and July 18—indicating that these unauthorized releases by North Korea are ongoing.
When North Korea opens the floodgates of the Hwanggang Dam, water levels at Gunnam Dam in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, and at Pilseung Bridge rise rapidly, significantly increasing the risk of flooding in border areas.
In September 2009, North Korea’s unannounced release of water from the Hwanggang Dam resulted in the disappearance or death of six residents of Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province. This incident led to an agreement in October of the same year between the two sides to provide prior notification when releasing water from the Hwanggang Dam, but North Korea is currently not adhering to this agreement.
Regarding this, an official from the Ministry of Unification met with reporters at the Government Complex in Seoul on July 22 and stated that the government is closely monitoring the North’s water release activities and is in close consultation with relevant ministries to prevent damage in border areas due to heavy rainfall.