“North Korea appears to have released water from the Hwangang Dam,” said an official at South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs. Yeoncheon County said it sent alert messages to local residents, warning them to move to a safer area. It was not immediately clear how many people had to evacuate after the suspected water release. “The water level is now receding after hovering above 1.6 meters (5.2 feet),” a Yeoncheon County official said. North Korea is stepping up efforts to prevent flood damage from recent heavy rains. South Korea has repeatedly urged the North to give notice before releasing water from the dam as the river flows through the Yeoncheon, but Pyongyang has not responded. In 2019, North Korea released water from the dam without warning, resulting in flash floods downstream that killed six South Koreans. Officials from the two countries then met to discuss the issue, with North Korea’s representative expressing regret for the deaths and offering condolences to the affected families.
