2007 North Korea flooding
Encyclopedia
Flooding in North Korea in August 2007 caused extensive damage and loss of life. The flooding affected most of the southern half of the country
including the capital
and some of its most productive agricultural regions. Aid officials feared the loss of crop land could seriously hinder the North’s ability to feed its people, causing widespread famine.
announced it had been hit extremely hard by floods after a solid week of torrential rains, and that it desperately needed assistance from the outside world. The previous year, the country also experienced massive flooding
when torrential rains in July left hundreds if not thousands dead. The difference is this time Pyongyang
reacted quickly to the disaster, requesting help while the waters were still high, rather than keeping silent as long as possible, as it has done in the past.
Television footage from North Korea showed citizens in Pyongyang wading in knee- and waist-deep waters along the capital's grand boulevards. Government officials invited foreign diplomats in Pyongyang to venture out to the countryside to view first-hand the devastation wrought by the relentless rains.
On August 27, North Korea said it had suspended its yearly showcase Arirang
mass games
. The performance will resume after the flood damage has been cleared away.
By August 31, North Korea reported recovering from devastating floods thanks to vigorous work by its citizens and officials. Railway services had resumed with many sections of broken track restored. Telecommunications workers are restoring destroyed or submerged cables. Yet, the dispatch made no mention of the foreign assistance. The country's leader Kim Jong-Il
thanked the leaders of 11 countries on September 11 for their help in flood relief, except South Korea
even though they sent 37.4 billion won (39.8 million dollars) of relief aid.
and corn
fields. The North is especially susceptible to bad weather because of a vicious circle where people strip hillsides of natural vegetation to create more arable land
to grow food — increasing the risk of floods. On August 16, 2007, Paul Lysley, spokesperson for the WFP Asia, has estimated the damage to crops alone at 450,000 tons.
The United Nations
' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
reported some 223,381 hectares of farmland were damaged, with about 20 percent of North Korea’s paddy fields and 15 percent of its corn fields flooded or washed away.
($7.6 million) in aid.
NGOs such as the Red Cross also asked people to raise funds because they fear a humanitarian catastrophe.
On August 29, Japan
considered sending humanitarian aid to North Korea to help it recover from devastating floods. Sending aid would be a reversal for Japan, which has previously linked aid to resolving a row over North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens
. Japan has not sent any humanitarian aid to North Korea since late 2004, in protest at a lack of progress over Japanese nationals kidnapped by Pyongyang
in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The United Nations
requested US$14 million to provide North Korea with food, medicine, drinking water and other emergency goods. The United States
pledged at least US$100,000 for the U.N.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
including the capital
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
and some of its most productive agricultural regions. Aid officials feared the loss of crop land could seriously hinder the North’s ability to feed its people, causing widespread famine.
History
On August 15, 2007, North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
announced it had been hit extremely hard by floods after a solid week of torrential rains, and that it desperately needed assistance from the outside world. The previous year, the country also experienced massive flooding
2006 North Korea flooding
Flooding in North Korea in July 2006 caused extensive damage and loss of life, although reports differ about its extent.A statement by the official Korean Central News Agency on August 3 described the events as "claiming huge human and material losses." Chosŏn Shinbo, a newspaper published by a...
when torrential rains in July left hundreds if not thousands dead. The difference is this time Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
reacted quickly to the disaster, requesting help while the waters were still high, rather than keeping silent as long as possible, as it has done in the past.
Television footage from North Korea showed citizens in Pyongyang wading in knee- and waist-deep waters along the capital's grand boulevards. Government officials invited foreign diplomats in Pyongyang to venture out to the countryside to view first-hand the devastation wrought by the relentless rains.
On August 27, North Korea said it had suspended its yearly showcase Arirang
Arirang Festival
The Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang are held in the Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea...
mass games
Mass games
Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of performing arts or gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance that emphasizes group dynamics rather than individual prowess.-Methods:...
. The performance will resume after the flood damage has been cleared away.
By August 31, North Korea reported recovering from devastating floods thanks to vigorous work by its citizens and officials. Railway services had resumed with many sections of broken track restored. Telecommunications workers are restoring destroyed or submerged cables. Yet, the dispatch made no mention of the foreign assistance. The country's leader Kim Jong-Il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
thanked the leaders of 11 countries on September 11 for their help in flood relief, except South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
even though they sent 37.4 billion won (39.8 million dollars) of relief aid.
Farmland
The flooding submerged, buried or washed away more than 11 percent of the country’s riceRice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
and corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
fields. The North is especially susceptible to bad weather because of a vicious circle where people strip hillsides of natural vegetation to create more arable land
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
to grow food — increasing the risk of floods. On August 16, 2007, Paul Lysley, spokesperson for the WFP Asia, has estimated the damage to crops alone at 450,000 tons.
The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , is a United Nations body formed in December 1991 by General Assembly Resolution 46/182...
reported some 223,381 hectares of farmland were damaged, with about 20 percent of North Korea’s paddy fields and 15 percent of its corn fields flooded or washed away.
Relief aid
On August 17, 2007, Seoul, South Korea decided to provide $7.5 million in flood relief to North Korea. Initial aid shipments will include noodles, drinking water, powdered milk, blankets and medicines. On August 23, 2007, a convoy of 34 trucks carrying emergency food rations, water and other goods left South Korea for the North. Seoul has pledged to provide 7.1 billion wonWon
Won or WON may refer to:*The Korean won from 1902–1910:**South Korean won, the currency of the Republic of Korea**North Korean won, the currency of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea* Won , the Korean form of Yuan...
($7.6 million) in aid.
NGOs such as the Red Cross also asked people to raise funds because they fear a humanitarian catastrophe.
On August 29, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
considered sending humanitarian aid to North Korea to help it recover from devastating floods. Sending aid would be a reversal for Japan, which has previously linked aid to resolving a row over North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens
North Korean abductions of Japanese
The abductions of Japanese citizens from Japan by agents of the North Korean government happened during a period of six years from 1977 to 1983. Although only 17 Japanese are officially recognized by the Japanese government as having been abducted, there may have been as many as 70 to 80...
. Japan has not sent any humanitarian aid to North Korea since late 2004, in protest at a lack of progress over Japanese nationals kidnapped by Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
requested US$14 million to provide North Korea with food, medicine, drinking water and other emergency goods. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pledged at least US$100,000 for the U.N.