Seoul Issues Evacuation Alert After North Korea Dam Water Release

South Korean authorities have issued urgent evacuation alerts for border regions after detecting an unannounced water release from North Korea's Hwanggang dam. The sudden discharge into the Imjin River system prompted immediate safety measures as water levels rose to potentially dangerous levels in areas south of the inter-Korean border.

According to South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, satellite imagery indicated water being released from the North Korean dam without prior notification. The water level at Pilseung Bridge, a key monitoring point on the Imjin River within South Korea, reached 1.86 meters by Sunday morning, triggering automatic evacuation protocols when levels exceed 1 meter. Authorities responded with text message alerts urging immediate evacuation of riverside areas.

This incident revives longstanding concerns about North Korea's adherence to a 2009 agreement requiring advance notice before discharging water from border-area dams. While Pyongyang provided such notifications intermittently in 2010 and 2013, it has failed to maintain this practice in recent years. South Korean officials have repeatedly emphasized that unannounced releases from northern dams pose significant safety risks to communities downstream.

The water discharge appears related to heavy rainfall affecting the border region since Friday, with additional precipitation forecast for early next week. North Korea likely initiated the release to manage water levels at the Hwanggang dam amid the ongoing wet weather conditions. The incident highlights the continuing environmental and security challenges along the heavily fortified Korean border, where natural resource management remains intertwined with diplomatic relations.