warning of Typhoon Khanun and urging action
North Korea was notably vigilant on Friday, broadcasting uncommon overnight weather forecasts for Typhoon Khanun as it moved northward following its arrival on the Korean Peninsula the day before. Khanun relentlessly battered South Korea for a continuous 16-hour period on Thursday, eventually dissipating after reaching the vicinity of Pyongyang around 6 a.m. on Friday, as indicated by reports from Seoul’s weather agency.
In a rare occurrence, North Korea’s official broadcaster, Korean Central TV, aired news alerts late into the night. This was reminiscent of a similar nighttime weather program aired during the impact of Typhoon Bavi in 2020, according to details provided by Yonhap News Agency. It appears that North Korea experienced relatively minor damage from Typhoon Khanun, primarily limited to broken tree branches, according to reports from the state media. The North Korean authorities had urged extensive efforts to mitigate potential damage from Khanun, emphasizing that a lack of preparation could have detrimental effects on the country’s economy.