Floods Submerge North Korea as Food Crisis Intensifies

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Massive floods in North Korea have forced thousands to evacuate, damaging 1,100 homes and decimating farms and roads.

The floods came as a result of heavy rain striking several areas on the east coast, notably the provinces of North and South Hamyong. 

Reports by KCTV mentioned the inundation of hundreds of hectares of farmland as river embankments have fully collapsed. The state TV showcased footage of the flood’s impact on neighborhoods, collapsed bridges, and main roads.

In addition to the damages suffered by cities, "hundreds of hectares of farmland" in the south Hamgyong Province have been inundated as river embankments have collapsed.

The current environmental calamity threatens North Korea’s food safety, notably after leader Kim Jong Un described in June his country’s food situation as “tense,” and hoping to rely on this year’s harvest to ensure a sufficient supply for his citizens. The North Korean leader called for measures to reduce the threat of natural disasters and to protect the agricultural sector from their impact.

Last month, the FAO predicted that North Korea would face a food shortage of 860,000 tons this year, warning that the country could witness a period of "severe drought," notably as the nation was reeling back from last summer's damage left by a series of tropical cyclones.

Natural disasters have often left a scarring mark on isolated North Korea due to the weakness of its infrastructure, whilst its deforestation made it susceptible to flooding.

The self-imposed isolation of North Korea is a measure taken to combat the spread of COVID-19, despite leading to a slowdown in trade with China which has always been considered as the country’s vital partner.