Aug. 2 (UPI) -- An extreme heat wave that is sweeping across the Korean Peninsula is compelling North Korea to take action, according to state media.

Korean Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun stated Thursday the Pyongyang government has declared a state of emergency because of the unusually hot weather.

According to the Rodong, the state has ordered the mobilization of all capabilities to prevent damage of crops and other harmful effects of drought.

"In order for the entire country to shake off high temperatures and to prevent drought, let us unleash a powerful struggle," the Rodong stated.

The declaration was made on the first page of the paper's Thursday issue.

"According to data from the Meteorological and Hydrological Bureau, temperatures have exceeded 35 degrees Celsius and surpassed 40 degrees Celsius, registering the highest temperatures on record.

"Many regions have not received rainfall and it is expected the high temperature pattern will continue."

The Rodong went on to explain crop damage has occurred in rice paddies and cornfields in North and South Hwanghae Provinces.

"All capabilities must be focused in a total struggle against high temperatures and drought," the newspaper stated.

"Whether or not the selfless perspirations of the entire people will make it to a good harvest into the fall, depends on how the drought and high temperatures are overcome."

In South Korea, agriculture has been affected by the weather.

Yonhap reported Wednesday vegetables such as cabbage and radish have increased in price, and wholesale prices of agricultural products is 6.5 percent higher than in June. </s> Temperatures have topped a record 40°C in some regions since late July, and crops such as rice and maize have begun to show signs of damage, North's Rodong Sinmun said.

NORTH Korea on Thursday called for an "all-out battle" against record temperatures that threaten crops in a country already grappling with tough international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.

The resulting drought has brought an "unprecedented natural disaster", the isolated nation said, warning against crop damage that could savage its farm-reliant economy, battered by sanctions despite recent diplomatic overtures.

"This high-temperature phenomenon is the largest, unprecedented natural disaster, but not an obstacle we cannot overcome," the North's Rodong Sinmun said, urging that "all capabilities" be mobilised to fight the extended dry spell.

Temperatures have topped a record 40°C in some regions since late July, and crops such as rice and maize have begun to show signs of damage, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party said in a front-page commentary.

"Whether the current good crop conditions, for which the whole nation has made unsparing investment and sweated until now, will lead to a bumper year in the autumn hinges on how we overcome the heat and drought," it added.

Similar past warnings in state media have served to drum up foreign assistance and boost domestic unity.

"I think the message was a precautionary one to minimise any impact on daily life," said Dong Yong-seung, who runs Good Farmers, a group based in Seoul, capital of neighbouring South Korea, that explores farm projects with the North.

But the mention of unprecedented weather, and a series of related articles, suggest the heat wave could further strain its capacity to respond to natural disasters, said Kim Young-hee, a defector from North Korea and an expert on its economy at Korea Finance Corp in Seoul.

The warning comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced in April a shift in focus from nuclear programmes to the economy, and held an unprecedented June summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore.

Since then, the young leader has toured industrial facilities and special economic zones near the North's border with China, a move experts saw as a bid to spur economic development nationwide.

"He has been highlighting his people-loving image and priority on the economy but the reality is he doesn't have the institutions to take a proper response to heat, other than opening underground shelters," added Mr Kim, the economist.

Drought and floods have long been a seasonal threat in North Korea, which lacks irrigation systems and other infrastructure to ward off natural disasters.

Last year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation warned of the North's worst drought in 16 years, but late summer rains and privately produced crops helped avert acute shortages.

There appear to be no immediate signs of major suffering in the North, with rice prices stable around 62 U.S. cents per kg through the year to Tuesday, a Reuters analysis of data compiled by the Daily NK website showed.

The website is run by defectors who gather prices through telephone calls to traders in the North, gaining a rare glimpse into the lives of ordinary citizens. REUTERS </s> SEOUL, Aug 2 (Reuters) - North Korea on Thursday called for an "all-out battle" against record temperatures that threaten crops in a country already grappling with tough international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.

The resulting drought has brought an "unprecedented natural disaster", the isolated nation said, warning against crop damage that could savage its farm-reliant economy, battered by sanctions despite recent diplomatic overtures.

"This high-temperature phenomenon is the largest, unprecedented natural disaster, but not an obstacle we cannot overcome," the North's Rodong Sinmun said, urging that "all capabilities" be mobilised to fight the extended dry spell.

Temperatures have topped a record 40°C (104°F) in some regions since late July, and crops such as rice and maize have begun to show signs of damage, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party said in a front-page commentary.

"Whether the current good crop conditions, for which the whole nation has made unsparing investment and sweated until now, will lead to a bumper year in the autumn hinges on how we overcome the heat and drought," it added.

Similar past warnings in state media have served to drum up foreign assistance and boost domestic unity.

"I think the message was a precautionary one to minimise any impact on daily life," said Dong Yong-seung, who runs Good Farmers, a group based in Seoul, capital of neighbouring South Korea, that explores farm projects with the North.

But the mention of unprecedented weather, and a series of related articles, suggest the heat wave could further strain its capacity to respond to natural disasters, said Kim Young-hee, a defector from North Korea and an expert on its economy at Korea Finance Corp in Seoul.

The warning comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced in April a shift in focus from nuclear programmes to the economy, and held an unprecedented June summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore.

Since then, the young leader has toured industrial facilities and special economic zones near the North's border with China, a move experts saw as a bid to spur economic development nationwide.

"He has been highlighting his people-loving image and priority on the economy but the reality is he doesn't have the institutions to take a proper response to heat, other than opening underground shelters," added Kim, the economist.

Drought and floods have long been a seasonal threat in North Korea, which lacks irrigation systems and other infrastructure to ward off natural disasters.

Last year, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation warned of the North's worst drought in 16 years, but late summer rains and privately produced crops helped avert acute shortages.

There appear to be no immediate signs of major suffering in the North, with rice prices stable around 62 U.S. cents per kg through the year to Tuesday, a Reuters analysis of data compiled by the Daily NK website showed.

The website is run by defectors who gather prices through telephone calls to traders in the North, gaining a rare glimpse into the lives of ordinary citizens.

Crops are good this year because there was little flooding to disrupt the early spring planting season, said Kang Mi-jin of the Daily NK, based in Seoul.

"They say nothing remains where water flowed away, but there is something to harvest after the heat," Kang said, citing defectors. "Market prices are mainly determined by Chinese supplies and private produce, rather than crop conditions."

The October harvest would reveal any havoc wreaked by the weather, Kim Young-hee added.

North Korea suffered a crippling famine in the 1990s when a combination of bad weather, economic mismanagement and the demise of fuel subsidies from the Soviet Union all but destroyed its state rationing system.

However, rationing has slowly been overtaken by an increase in foreign products, mainly from China, and privately produced food sold in North Korean markets, a factor experts say U.N. reports overlook.

The neighbours are in talks to help the North modernise its economy, step up disaster response measures and expand forests in a follow-up to April's historic summit between Kim and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in.

Across the border, temperatures hit 39.6°C (103.28°F) in Seoul on Wednesday, their highest since weather authorities began monitoring in 1907. The heat has caused 29 deaths and injuries to more than 2,350 people, health officials have said. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Editing by Soyoung Kim and Clarence Fernandez) </s> SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea on Thursday called for an “all-out battle” against record temperatures that threaten crops in a country already grappling with tough international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.

The resulting drought has brought an “unprecedented natural disaster”, the isolated nation said, warning against crop damage that could savage its farm-reliant economy, battered by sanctions despite recent diplomatic overtures.

“This high-temperature phenomenon is the largest, unprecedented natural disaster, but not an obstacle we cannot overcome,” the North’s Rodong Sinmun said, urging that “all capabilities” be mobilized to fight the extended dry spell.

Temperatures have topped a record 40°C (104°F) in some regions since late July, and crops such as rice and maize have begun to show signs of damage, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers’ Party said in a front-page commentary.

“Whether the current good crop conditions, for which the whole nation has made unsparing investment and sweated until now, will lead to a bumper year in the autumn hinges on how we overcome the heat and drought,” it added.

Similar past warnings in state media have served to drum up foreign assistance and boost domestic unity.

“I think the message was a precautionary one to minimize any impact on daily life,” said Dong Yong-seung, who runs Good Farmers, a group based in Seoul, capital of neighboring South Korea, that explores farm projects with the North.

But the mention of unprecedented weather, and a series of related articles, suggest the heat wave could further strain its capacity to respond to natural disasters, said Kim Young-hee, a defector from North Korea and an expert on its economy at Korea Finance Corp in Seoul.

The warning comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced in April a shift in focus from nuclear programs to the economy, and held an unprecedented June summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore.

Since then, the young leader has toured industrial facilities and special economic zones near the North’s border with China, a move experts saw as a bid to spur economic development nationwide.

“He has been highlighting his people-loving image and priority on the economy but the reality is he doesn’t have the institutions to take a proper response to heat, other than opening underground shelters,” added Kim, the economist.

Drought and floods have long been a seasonal threat in North Korea, which lacks irrigation systems and other infrastructure to ward off natural disasters.

Last year, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation warned of the North’s worst drought in 16 years, but late summer rains and privately produced crops helped avert acute shortages.

There appear to be no immediate signs of major suffering in the North, with rice prices stable around 62 U.S. cents per kg through the year to Tuesday, a Reuters analysis of data compiled by the Daily NK website showed.

The website is run by defectors who gather prices through telephone calls to traders in the North, gaining a rare glimpse into the lives of ordinary citizens.

Crops are good this year because there was little flooding to disrupt the early spring planting season, said Kang Mi-jin of the Daily NK, based in Seoul.

“They say nothing remains where water flowed away, but there is something to harvest after the heat,” Kang said, citing defectors. “Market prices are mainly determined by Chinese supplies and private produce, rather than crop conditions.”

The October harvest would reveal any havoc wreaked by the weather, Kim Young-hee added.

North Korea suffered a crippling famine in the 1990s when a combination of bad weather, economic mismanagement and the demise of fuel subsidies from the Soviet Union all but destroyed its state rationing system.

However, rationing has slowly been overtaken by an increase in foreign products, mainly from China, and privately produced food sold in North Korean markets, a factor experts say U.N. reports overlook.

The neighbors are in talks to help the North modernize its economy, step up disaster response measures and expand forests in a follow-up to April’s historic summit between Kim and South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in.

Across the border, temperatures hit 39.6°C (103.28°F) in Seoul on Wednesday, their highest since weather authorities began monitoring in 1907. The heat has caused 29 deaths and injuries to more than 2,350 people, health officials have said. </s> Image copyright AFP Image caption Pyongyang has seen record temperatures

North Korea says a heatwave is threatening a "natural disaster" and has called on its citizens to help protect crops from drought.

The Korean peninsula is experiencing record temperatures and South Korea has reported 28 deaths from the heat.

In the North, which has previously suffered bouts of famine, state media warned that key crops such as rice and corn were under threat.

It called on citizens to "join the struggle" to safeguard harvests.

"This year's high temperature is an unprecedented natural disaster but it is not an insurmountable difficulty," it said.

"Officials and working people in all fields and units... should turn out as one and devotedly work out of patriotism in the campaign to prevent damage by high temperature and drought," an editorial in the state-run newspaper Rodong said.

"All people should fully display their patriotic zeal in the ongoing campaign."

State news agency KCNA said irrigation equipment was being urgently repaired and new wells and reservoirs created.

"Myriads of water carriers, tractors, trucks and other vehicles have been involved in irrigating croplands together with all the available watering equipment and devices," it said.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption North Korea leader Kim Jong-un was pictured inspecting a farm in July

Temperatures in the capital Pyongyang hit a record high of 37.8C (100F) on Wednesday. The South's capital, Seoul, also recently recorded its hottest ever temperature at 39C.

Earlier this year, the head of the UN's World Food Programme made a rare visit to North Korea and said the country was working hard to meet nutritional standards.

David Beasley spent two days in the capital, Pyongyang, and two outside it, accompanied by government minders.

He said levels of hunger were not as high as in the 1990s. Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have died in a widespread famine in the North between 1994 and 1998.

"I didn't see starvation like you had in the famine back in the 1990s, that's the good news. But is there a hunger issue, is there under-nutrition? There's no question about it," he told the BBC.

After a drought in 2017, the UN said seven in 10 North Koreans were relying on food aid, while four in 10 were malnourished.

North Korea is under strict UN sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, despite a recent diplomatic rapprochement with the US.

Decades of state mismanagement and a lack of infrastructure have left the country vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods and drought. </s> GENEVA (Reuters) - Severe flooding in North Korea has killed at least 76 people with nearly the same number missing and thousands left homeless by the destruction, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Thursday.

Volunteers from the national Red Cross are conducting search and rescue operations in North and South Hwanghae provinces, where heavy rains began on August 28, it said, adding that many children were among the 75 missing.

“Heavy rains in recent days triggered large-scale flooding and landslides in low-lying areas, destroying more than 800 buildings including homes, clinics and schools,” the Geneva-based Federation said in a statement.

The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the country’s official name, was providing aid and deploying mobile water treatment plants, it said.

“Thousands have lost their homes and are in urgent need of health services, shelter, food, safe drinking water and sanitation,” said John Fleming of the Federation’s country office.

A month ago, the agency warned that a heat wave in North Korea had led to rice, maize and other crops withering in the fields, “with potentially catastrophic effects”, putting the country at risk of a “full-blown food security crisis”.

The drought-affected areas were South Hamgyong and South Pyongan provinces.

Drought and floods have long been a seasonal threat in North Korea, which lacks irrigation systems and other infrastructure to ward off natural disasters.

“Extreme weather events are occuring much more often,” Federation spokeswoman Laura Ngo-Fontaine said on Thursday. </s> SEOUL (THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The extreme heat wave gripping the Korean Peninsula is forecast to reach its highest temperature in the coming days, South Korea's state weather agency said on Tuesday (July 31).

While the daytime high in Seoul rose to 38.3 degrees Celsius around 3pm local time (2pm Singapore time) on Tuesday, the figure is likely rise to 39 deg C on Wednesday, the highest temperature in the city since the government started compiling the data in 1907, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

On Tuesday, KMA issued additional extreme heat wave warnings for Gyeongju and Cheongsong in North Gyeongsang province. The warnings had been issued in almost all regions across the country as the daytime highs rose to over 35 deg C for past few days.

Twenty-seven people have died of heat stroke and more than 2,200 people have been taken to the hospital for heat-related conditions as of Tuesday, according to the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

This year's number of heat casualties appears to have jumped from last summer when 1,574 patients and 11 deaths related to heat were reported.

South Koreans are also enduring days of tropical nights, during which the lowest temperature remains above 25 deg C from 6pm to 9am the next day.

The blistering heat wave with daytime highs hovering around 35 deg C is to continue until the end of this week, according to the weather agency. The temperature is 4 to 7 deg C higher than the last year's average summer temperature.

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"Usually, we see the hottest days early to mid-August. So the hot weather is likely to continue," an official from the KMA told The Korea Herald.

While several factors are behind the extreme heat wave this year, the main cause is the high atmospheric pressure from northern China and southern Mongolia which has expanded to reinforce the North Pacific anticyclone, the official explained.

"Being under high atmospheric pressure means the air from above circulates downward. And because of the clear skies, the air is heated and the cycle has repeated, resulting in the high temperatures," the official said.

In the Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon ordered a review of lowering the price of electricity for the socially disadvantaged, viewing the extreme weather condition as a "special disaster" situation.

Interior and Safety Minister Kim Boo-kyum also called for all administrative efforts to be put toward protecting those vulnerable to the hot weather, such as the elderly and said the ministry will designate special agents to check on them.

The minister also ordered active promotion of a campaign which recommends people call their parents to check how they are doing and talk to them about preventing heat-related problems.

Regional governments are also moving to check their heat-related policies, including Seoul which operates daytime heat shelters with air conditioning and monitoring of homeless in public areas.

Gyeonggi provincial government will also conduct inspections to see whether the measures to prevent heat-related accidents are appropriately implemented, in 10 cities from Wednesday until Aug 10. </s> SEOUL, July 17 (UPI) -- Scorching heat in South Korea has caused four deaths and sent hundreds of people to hospitals for heat-related symptoms.

The number of those hospitalized from heat-related symptoms rose to 285 Sunday, officials said. A total of 551 have been taken to hospitals in the sweltering heat from May to July, the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

Forecasters expect the hot days will continue with the mercury expected to stay above 91 degrees Fahrenheit nationwide this week. The temperature stays in the 70s at night.

The Korea Meteorological Administration issued heatwave warnings in most regions Tuesday with temperatures expected to rise to more than 90 degrees.

The heatwave has also caused some 790,000 deaths of livestock with the estimated loss of 4.2 billion won ($3.7 million) at farms in the country, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Yonhap reported.

The intense heat also caused a part of an expressway on the west coast to expand and rise. It's also put a strain on an air conditioning system on the KTX express train, leaving some passengers without air conditioning for hours. </s> SEOUL, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Seoul recorded its highest temperature ever on Wednesday as a deadly heat wave continues to bake the country.

The temperature in central Seoul hit a record high 103 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest since weather forecasters started tracking temperatures in 1907.

Heat wave warnings have been issued in most of the regions across the country.

At least 27 people have died of heatstroke, as of Sunday, and more than 2,000 people have fallen ill with heat-related symptoms, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The ongoing heat wave has caused more than 350,000 deaths of livestock in the southern province of North Gyeongsang. The North Chungcheong Province also reported some 260,000 livestock deaths.

Food prices have also surged amid the sweltering heat.

Prices for agricultural products jumped by 4 percent last month compared to July of last year, according to a consumer price figure by Statistics Korea, Financial News reported.
North Korea warns that the heat wave affecting the Korean peninsula could damage important food crops and lead to shortages.