The Ministry of Unification stated today (July 28) that while North Korea is failing to abide by the agreement to notify in advance regarding the discharge from the Hwanggang Dam in the upper reaches of the Imjin River, the South Korean government has secured its own monitoring capabilities.

Meeting with reporters at the Seoul Government Complex today, a Unification Ministry official emphasized that even if North Korea discharges water from the Hwanggang Dam without prior notice, a response system sufficient for managing the safety of residents in border regions is operating.

North Korea agreed to give advance notice when releasing water from the Hwanggang Dam in October 2009, but has failed to implement the prior notification agreement since 2013.

The official explained, "In the past, the means to verify whether water was being discharged were limited, but currently, related science and technology have advanced significantly, including satellite image analysis, water level observation, rainfall prediction, and integrated monitoring by relevant agencies," adding that judgments on whether water is being released do not rely solely on North Korea's advance notice.

The official also pointed out that reports by some media outlets claiming there are limits to real-time monitoring of the Hwanggang Dam's discharge, or that response is difficult because the water reaches Pilseung Bridge—the southernmost point in the South—within an hour after discharge, are not true.

The official explained, "Regular satellite photography during the flood season is conducted 3 to 4 times a day, but real-time monitoring is possible by activating 'emergency satellite photography' in times of need," and added, "It takes about 6 hours for the water to reach Pilseung Bridge when the Hwanggang Dam discharges, leaving ample time for prior detection and preparation."

(Photo: Yonhap News)