Do North Koreans Get Hurricanes?
North Korea is no stranger to extreme weather. It receives regular typhoons, snowstorms, dust storms, and floods, but what about hurricanes? Do North Koreans ever experience these powerful storms?
The answer, unfortunately, is no. Despite bordering two seas – the Yellow Sea to its west and the Sea of Japan to its east – North Koreans do not typically see hurricanes, because their location is at too high a latitude.
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan rarely experience hurricanes, with most storms forming in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, which are further south. The area around North Korea – which has a 42 degree latitude at its northernmost point – is simply too far away from these seas to receive strong storms from them.
Scientists further explain that much of North Korea’s weather is determined by the presence of the Siberian anticyclone, a weather system which brings cold temperatures and snow during the winter months and warm temperatures and dry weather in the summer.
In response to this, North Koreans have had to adapt to extreme weather conditions, putting in place measures such as flood guards, strong dams, and emergency shelters. This kind of preparation is key in ensuring their safety in the midst of certain weather.
Extreme Temperatures
North Korea experiences extreme temperatures year round. Winters are generally very cold, with temperatures reaching -20 degrees Celsius. Contrastingly, summers are hot and humid. In some areas, the mercury can rise to 38 degrees Celsius – which is truly sweltering.
In spite of the cold winters, North Korea does not experience much snow. In 2015, for example, the country only received about 17 cm – less than half the amount its capital city, Pyongyang, would normally get in Japan or Canada.
In terms of extreme weather aside from hurricanes, North Koreans are all too familiar with typhoons. These tropical cyclones are often brought to the area by the warm and humid weather of the summer months. In recent years, some of the most severe of these have caused extensive flooding, destroying property and crops in their wake.
Dust Storms
The dry and warm weather of North Korea has also caused dust storms to become quite common, though these tend to occur less in the summer than in the winter. Dust storms can cause transport to grind to a halt, as visibility is severely obscured, and can also be damaging to respiratory systems, leading to serious health risks.
Dust storms in North Korea in recent years have been documented by local media, with some being particularly severe. In March of 2019, a yellow dust storm blew in from the desert of Mongolia and China, causing serious visibility and breathing issues in various parts of the country.
Floods
Aside from dust and typhoon-induced rains, North Korea also experiences flooding, particularly during the year’s monsoon season. These floods can cause major damage to infrastructure, as well as crops, and can lead to power outages and other problems.
A notable example of this occurred in 2007, when heavy rains caused a dam to breach and flood the capital city, Pyongyang. The effect was catastrophic, with entire villages destroyed and numerous people dying.
Environmental Consequences
In addition to these more immediate effects of the weather on North Koreans, there are also the long term environmental consequences to consider. North Korea has a problem with deforestation, which affects the region’s ability to withstand tropical storms and other disasters.
Deforestation occurs because of logging and fuel shortages, both of which have been exacerbated by years of economic turmoil and a lack of resources. This, in turn, makes the country more vulnerable to floods and other natural disasters, because the trees and vegetation that used to work as buffers no longer exist.
International Aid
In the wake of natural disasters, North Korea has not always been able to rely on international aid for assistance. In the 2015 typhoon for instance, the country begged for help from the outside, only to be largely ignored. The international community instead preferred to hold the country accountable for its nuclear program and human rights abuses.
This changed in August of 2018, however, when North Korea was hit by heavy floods and found itself asking the international community once again for aid. This time there was a response, with various countries and organizations providing humanitarian assistance.
North Korean Adaptions
To its credit, North Korea has taken steps to try and counter the effects of its extreme weather. According to environmental experts, the country is investing in technologies such as weather forecasting and monitoring systems, in order to try and give residents more warning in case of drastic weather changes.
Additionally, it is working on soil erosion prevention projects and reforestation efforts, in order to try and reduce the effects of drought and floods. This is notable cause for optimism, since it is evidence that North Koreans are taking the weather seriously and are willing to take action to protect themselves.
International Preparation
Given the potential for disaster, it is also important that the international community be prepared in the event of a major crisis in North Korea. Fortunately, this has not been lacking in recent years.
In 2017, the UN World Food Programme opened up a Food Security Cluster in the country, while various NGOs and charities have also contributed to efforts to try and support the people in case of disaster.
Internal Preparation
Finally, North Korea is taking measures to try and protect the population in case of extreme weather. This includes constructing a network of shelters, increasing its ability to respond to natural disasters, and putting in place strong infrastructure such as dam walls and drainage systems.
The government also promotes important information about disaster preparedness and frequently holds drills to inform people about what to do in case of a major event.
These are all important steps to take, and show that North Koreans are not entirely ignoring the threat of extreme weather. Of course, more international commitment and resources are needed if the country is to be fully protected from all natural disasters.
