North Korea Battles Flooding Crisis: Kim Jong Un Leads Emergency Response

North Korea's Sinuiju and Uiju County have been heavily flooded due to recent rainfall, impacting over 4,000 homes and 3,000 hectares of farmland. Kim Jong Un chaired an emergency meeting to address the crisis. The region has faced ongoing extreme weather due to the monsoon season and Tropical Storm Gaemi.

In a devastating turn of events, more than 4,000 homes in North Korea's Sinuiju and Uiju County near the Chinese border have fallen victim to severe flooding triggered by intense rainfall, according to state media outlet KCNA. The floods have also inundated approximately 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of farmland, along with numerous public buildings, facilities, and roads.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over an urgent two-day emergency meeting convened by the ruling Workers' Party politburo earlier in the week to address the dire situation. During the meeting, Kim expressed profound concern regarding the extensive damage and urged immediate, robust measures to facilitate recovery efforts. On Sunday, Kim personally inspected the flood-ravaged areas.

This is part of broader regional impact caused by Tropical Storm Gaemi, which has brought heavy rainfall, causing landslides and flash floods elsewhere. North Korea's state media has been sounding the alarm for weeks about the monsoon season's potential for catastrophic damage, issuing multiple reports on preventative efforts. Similar extreme weather conditions have also wreaked havoc in South Korea, leading to landslides, train disruptions, and significant infrastructure damage earlier in the month.

(With inputs from agencies.)