Relief Camps Dot Areas Hit by Flooding

Recent commercial satellite imagery shows hundreds of tents have been erected in the northwest corner of North Korea to house residents who have lost their homes after recent heavy flooding.

The tents, spread across multiple sites in Uiju and Sinuiju cities, illustrate the seriousness of the flooding, which inundated villages and farmlands and submerged homes in late July. The North Korean state has already launched a major recovery response and is promising to send thousands of workers to rebuild the area.

Figure 1. Tents set up in relief camp in Uiju City broadcast on state television on August 10, 2024. (Source: Korean Central Television)

Kim Jong Un’s Visit

On August 8, Kim Jong Un visited one of the relief camps in Uiju City. The site comprised approximately 75 small and large tents, and was erected in what appears to be the courtyard of a local school. It is one of four large camps in Uiju City, though it differs from the others, which only contain the smaller tents. A neighboring relief camp site was constructed at Uiju Yangsil Primary School.

Figure 2. Overview of relief camps in Uiju City on imagery from August 8, 2024. Image © 2024 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].

Figure 3a. Close up of relief camp at Uiju Yangsil Primary School and nearby relief camp visited by Kim Jong Un. Figure 2. Overview of relief camps in Uiju City on imagery from August 8, 2024. Image © 2024 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].

Figure 3b. Close up of other two large relief camps in Uiju City on imagery from August 8, 2024. Figure 2. Overview of relief camps in Uiju City on imagery from August 8, 2024. Image © 2024 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].

Figure 4. Aerial footage of relief camp broadcast on state television on August 10, 2024. (Source: Korean Central Television)

Upon entering the camp, Kim visited displaced residents. As seen on Korean Central Television (KCTV) broadcast from August 10, the featured tents appear to house around 15 people, showing mostly adults with a few children. Inside, the tents have foam floor mats, basic goods such as buckets and a broom, a television, and an electric fan.

Figure 5a. Kim Jong Un visits residents of a relief camp in Uiju City, North Korea, as broadcast on Korean Central Television on August 10, 2024. (Source: Korean Central Television)

Figure 5b. Kim Jong Un visits residents of a relief camp in Uiju City, North Korea published in state media on August 10, 2024. (Source: Korean Central News Agency)

Figure 5c. Kim Jong Un visits residents of a relief camp in Uiju City, North Korea, as broadcast on Korean Central Television on August 10, 2024. (Source: Korean Central Television)

Figure 5d. Kim Jong Un visits residents of a relief camp in Uiju City, North Korea published in state media on August 10, 2024. (Source: Korean Central News Agency)

Figure 5e. Kim Jong Un visits residents of a relief camp in Uiju City, North Korea published in state media on August 10, 2024. (Source: Korean Central New Agency)

Information Dissemination

Aerial footage of the site showed all tents appear to have their own electricity hookup and television antenna. In a speech to displaced residents the day after his visit, Kim highlighted the importance of television in relaying information to residents.

“It is indispensable to set up a well-regulated system for the distribution of newspapers and other publications, supply a TV set to each family and install one in every public place, so that the afflicted residents can keep abreast of the Party’s intentions, and to direct close attention to ensuring them a good meal,” he said, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Sinuiju City

Several kilometers south of Sinuiju City, similar relief camps have also appeared. Most are housed on the grounds of what appear to be schools.

Rebuilding

Kim Jong Un has promised an aggressive campaign to deliver relief supplies and rebuild the areas destroyed by flooding, both in the Sinuiju and Uiju areas and across other districts in North Phyongan, Ryanggang and Jagang provinces.

In his August 9 speech, he promised that 130,000 construction workers would take part in the effort. In some cases, they would be pulled away from other construction projects.

Figure 8. Kim Jong Un delivers a speech to victims of recent flooding at Uiju Airfield, seen on Korean Central Television on August 10, 2024. (Source: Korean Central Television)

North Korean construction projects often run at an impressive speed, and the rebuilding work would be no different, said Kim. “Given the extent of damage, it will take at least two or three months to stabilize the flood victims’ living by building new houses and repairing the existing ones,” he stated, according to KCNA.

With flood waters receding, the first signs of rebuilding will likely be seen soon.

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