South Korea's Lee orders all-out effort to find missing after floods
The wet weather has now subsided, though media reports said heavy rainfall was drenching parts of North Korea.
Some 19 people have died and nine were still missing in South Korea as of Tuesday morning, while 2,549 people remained displaced, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said.
Damage to property was extensive with some 3,776 facilities, including homes, shops and factories needing to be cleared of water, debris and earth, it said.
Noting the limitations of existing methods in coping with last week's rain, Lee ordered the prime minister and all related ministries to establish a comprehensive response system for natural disasters by region and type.
Lee also told a cabinet meeting to "strictly crack down on mindless public officials who enjoy dancing and drinking at.. locations where people are dying."
The president's approval rating fell to 62.2% from 64.6% previously according to pollster Realmeter, in a survey conducted last week during the torrential rains.
Lee, who took office in June, has promised to make the country safer and to prevent any repeat of the disasters in recent years that have often been blamed on the inadequate response by authorities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
Rubio urges Cambodia, Thailand to deescalate, offers US for talks
WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday, urging them to immediately deescalate tensions and telling them the United States was ready to help with talks, the State Department said. "The United States is prepared to facilitate future discussions in order to ensure peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia," the department said in statements on Sunday about separate calls with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Russia launches first direct passenger flights connecting Moscow and Pyongyang in decades
Russia will launch direct passenger flights from Moscow to North Korea 's capital Pyongyang on Sunday, Russian authorities said, as the two former communist bloc allies move to improve ties following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The start of regular flights between the capitals for the first time since the mid-1990s, according to Russian aviation blogs, follows the resumption of Moscow-Pyongyang passenger rail service, a 10-day journey, in June. The first flight will leave Sheremetyevo airport at 7pm (1600 GMT), according to the airport's timetable. The eight-hour flight will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER with a capacity of 440 passengers, Russia's RIA state news agency said on Sunday. It said tickets started at 44,700 roubles ($563), and the first flight quickly sold out. Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia has granted Nordwind Airlines permission to operate flights between Moscow and Pyongyang twice a week. The transport ministry said in a statement that for now flights would operate once a month, "to help build stable demand". The only direct air route between Russia and North Korea has been flights by North Korean carrier Air Koryo to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East three times a week. Ukraine and its Western allies have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery and ballistic missiles. Moscow and Pyongyang deny the allegations. Pyongyang has deployed more than 10,000 troops and arms to Russia to back Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said this month his country was ready to "unconditionally support" Moscow's efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Kim Jong Un gives battle cry speech about winning 'anti-American' world war... after Trump boasted about their bromance
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has fired off a chilling battle cry, vowing victory in an 'anti-imperialist, anti-US' war, despite Trump boasting about their special relationship just months ago. Marking the 71st anniversary of the Korean War armistice, Jong Un ramped up his war rhetoric, declaring his regime would become the 'honorable victors' in a new global showdown against Washington DC and its allies. 'Our state and its people would surely achieve the great cause of building a rich country with a strong army and become honorable victors in the anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. showdown,' Kim said, according to North Korea 's state-run KCNA news agency. The bold proclamation was part of North Korea's national celebration of 'Victory Day,' a holiday the country uniquely commemorates despite the war ending in stalemate. South Korea, however, does not mark the occasion. Jong Un's announcement comes as North Korea deepens its military alliance with Russia, fighting alongside the sprawling country in its war against Ukraine. Thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly been deployed to Russia's Kursk region, and Pyongyang is believed to be shipping munitions to fuel Moscow 's war in Ukraine. More troops may be dispatched as early as August, South Korean officials have warned. The fiery rhetoric however is nothing new for Jong Un, who has spent months accusing the U.S. and South Korea of provoking conflict. In February this year, President Donald Trump resurfaced in the North Korea conversation, boasting about his 'friendship' with Jong Un. During his first term, Trump met Jong Un three times, including one visit to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. 'We will have relations with North Korea, with Kim Jong Un,' Trump said during a press conference in February 2025, while standing beside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. 'I got along with him very well, as you know. I think I stopped a war,' Trump added. While the meetings earned global headlines, critics say they gave Jong Un international legitimacy without curbing his nuclear ambitions. Even so, Trump doubled down claiming the meetings were an 'asset for the world.' 'If I can have a relationship with not only him, but other people throughout the world where there seem to be difficulties, I think that's a tremendous asset for the world.' However in October, Jong Un issued a warning about his country's nuclear capabilities. He said North Korea 'will without hesitation use all its attack capabilities' if it detects even a hint of military action from its enemies. 'The use of nuclear weapons is not ruled out in this case,' Kim declared during a speech at the Kim Jong Un University of National Defense on October 7. Jong Un claims the nuclear buildup is necessary as Washington and Seoul strengthen their joint military planning and expand strategic weapons deployment across the region. Since 2022, North Korea has followed a first-strike nuclear policy, claiming it will launch nuclear weapons if it perceives a threat to its leadership. Still, most military analysts believe Pyongyang would struggle to match the combined firepower of the U.S. and South Korea. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol fired back at Kim's 'threats', warning the northern leader that any use of nuclear weapons would spell the 'end of the regime' and trigger an 'overwhelming' response from the allied forces. Meanwhile, North Korea's missile program continues at full throttle.
