Government: "Signs of Water Release Detected in Satellite Images"
North Korea Has Not Honored Notification Agreement Since 2013
The government has confirmed that North Korea released water from the Hwanggang Dam in the upper Imjin River without prior notice. The water level of the Imjin River has already surpassed the threshold for evacuating visitors.
Visitors are exploring the area around the Freedom Bridge at Imjingak in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News
On October 12, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment stated, "We are monitoring the release status of the Hwanggang Dam in the upper Imjin River, a river shared by North and South Korea, through satellite imagery and other means," adding, "Signs of water release were detected in footage taken at 11 p.m. on October 11."
Earlier, Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province reported that at around 3:50 a.m. on the same day, an official from Gunnam Dam notified them that "it appears water is being released from the Hwanggang Dam in the upper Imjin River."
The Imjin River basin has experienced continuous rainfall since October 10, and heavy rain is also forecast for October 13 and 14. The government estimates that North Korea lowered the dam's water level to secure flood control capacity.
Once again, North Korea did not provide prior notice to the South regarding the water release. In September 2009, North Korea released water from the Hwanggang Dam without warning, resulting in casualties downstream. In October of the same year, the two Koreas agreed to provide advance notice when releasing water from dams. However, North Korea has not honored this agreement since 2013.
As of midnight on October 12, the water level at Pilseung Bridge in Yeoncheon County, the northernmost point of the Imjin River, exceeded the 1-meter threshold for evacuating visitors. As of 10:50 a.m., it had risen to 1.86 meters.
Gyeonggi Province and Yeoncheon County sent disaster alert messages to residents and visitors immediately after the water level rose, urging them to stay away from the area. If the water level at Pilseung Bridge exceeds 2 meters, the non-flood season evacuation stage is triggered. At 7.5 meters, the "attention" stage for border area crisis response is declared, and at 12 meters, the "caution" stage is issued.
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