I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
NK notifies South of dam discharge
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff reporter
North Korea Sunday informed South Korea of its plan to discharge water into the downstream of the Imjin River in case rain continues to pour.
In its notification through a military line, the North said it would be unavoidable to release water to avoid flooding if heavy rain continues until 8 p.m. Sunday evening.
After the notification, the South Korean government began preparing for the North’s release of water, asking campers to leave camping sites immediately.
Last year, the North released 40 million tons of water in August without prior notice, causing six South Koreans who were camping near the border to be killed when water levels in the Imjin River suddenly rose.
After the incident, the North said the discharge was unavoidable as water levels rose suddenly due to torrential rains.
The Ministry of Unification considered proposing inter-Korean talks to map out rules on the use and discharge of water in the Imjin River.
There is an array of small and large dams in the North near the border. North Korean dams are notorious for its poor construction and vulnerability to flooding.
South Korea built the Peace Dam stretching from Yanggu to Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, in 2005 to stave off possible catastrophic flooding if the Imnam Dam in Wonsan, North Korea, collapsed.
By Kang Hyun-kyung
‘北, 임진강댐 방류 가능성 통보’
북한이 임진강 상류 댐의 물을 방류할 가능성이 있다.
통일부는 "북측이 오늘 오후 2시께 경의선 군 통신선을 통해 `지금과 같이 비가 많이 내리게 되면 저녁 8시 이후 임진강 상류 댐의 물을 불가피하게 방류할 수 있다'고 통보해왔다"고 설명했다.
통일부는 이에 따라 북측의 방류에 대비할 수 있도록 한강홍수통제소 등 관련 기관에 북측의 통보 내용을 전파했다.
북한 매체 등에 따르면 장마전선의 북상으로 전날 개성시 인근 장풍군에 143㎜ 등 황해북도와 강원도 등에 집중호우가 내렸으며, 북한 전 지역에도 사흘째 비가 내리고 있는 것으로 전해졌다.
북측의 이 같은 통보는 지난해 9월 6일 임진강 상류 황강댐의 물을 예고 없이 방류, 우리 측 임진강 유역 수위가 급격히 상승하면서 경기도 연천군에서 우리 국민 6명이 사망한 것을 의식한 것으로 보인다.