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| In this Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un talks to officials as he visits a damaged area in the South Hamgyong province. (Photo by: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] Around 300,000 North Koreans in Pyongyang volunteered to help with recovery efforts in typhoon-hit eastern regions after leader Kim Jong-un called on party members in the capital city a day earlier to step forward to help, state media reported Monday.
In an open letter sent to party members in Pyongyang, Kim said about 12,000 elite party members of the capital city will be sent to North and South Hamgyong Provinces each to help with recovery efforts, the Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday. Kim also called on party members, especially those in the capital, to "take the lead" in helping with recovery efforts in flood-affected areas, KCNA said. Also, numbers of volunteers are increasing.
Heavy machinery, such as trucks and excavators, and other equipment necessary for restoration work were sent to the Hamgyong provinces, the paper said. On Saturday, Kim visited South Hamgyong Province, which was hit by Typhoon Maysak last week, and presided over a Workers' Party meeting at the scene to discuss recovery efforts, according to state media. Typhoon Maysak, the ninth tropical storm of the season, hit North Korea as the country and another powerful typhoon is expected to land on the eastern coast Monday.
