Heavy rains and mudslides damaged newly built homes, roads and cropfields in northwest North Korea last week, including at the sprawling Yongbyon nuclear complex, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

Planet Labs imagery shows widespread evidence of mudslides and swollen rivers and streams, primarily in Kujang and Nyongbyon counties of North Phyongan Province, following seasonal monsoon rains between July 21 and 22.

However, North Korea has not reported the damage from the storms, part of the Kim family dictatorship’s longstanding policy of publicizing mostly positive propaganda and covering up day-to-day problems. State media has covered some major floods in recent years, though usually after more large-scale destruction than last week.

It comes one year after NK Pro published imagery showing that an entire village was completely wiped off the map by major mudslides in Jagang Province. Authorities never acknowledged the destruction and likely deaths from the tragedy, but Kim Jong Un visited the site of replacement homes later built nearby. 

The hardest hit areas last week were sparsely populated mountains and valleys in eastern Nyongbyon and north of the Chongchon River from the main town of Kujang, but there were still dozens of homes, including those recently built for rural residents, that appeared to be damaged or destroyed. 

For example, newly built housing in Sangi-ri, Kujang County appeared to be in the path of mudslides or heavy water flows in the latest imagery. The homes were previously featured in April 2024 reports claiming they were gifted by the “motherly” party and Kim Jong Un to locals.

Small bridges crossing creeks as well as roads and likely some homes were also damaged by water flowing down from mountains right across the river from the main Yongbyon nuclear reactor. 

The heavy rains likely created problems for some workers of the nuclear complex, but the reactor site itself appears undamaged. 

Though inconclusive, imagery also suggests the storm may have been responsible for demolition days later at a new construction site that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has identified as a possible uranium enrichment plant.

Imagery shows that a partially built structure inside the northern wall of the new compound was taken down between July 25 and 26, potentially due to being damaged beyond repair by the rains. This also raises the possibility that flooding impacted the main building, with evidence of overflowing streams and minor mudslides in the surrounding area as well.

The construction project still appears incomplete, and it remains unconfirmed whether it is a nuclear-related facility.

Imagery shows more isolated patches of mudslides in Unsan County to the north of Kujang, while large volumes of water flowed through a valley to the northeast in Hyangsan County (Myohyangsan) that hosts the Kim family’s prized gifts museum and Workers’ Party plenum retreat facility.

During the 8 p.m. news on July 22, Korean Central Television (KCTV) reported rainfall totals of 329.8 mm (13 in) in Kujang, 275.6 mm (10.9 in) in Nyongbyon (Yongbyon) and 252.9 mm (10 in) in Unsan. 

It did not air video footage during the heavy rain of reporters offering situation updates from various locations like it has in the past.

National state media outlets warned residents of North Phyongan and Jagang Provinces days earlier of severe rain forecasts but without offering more detailed radar animations or specific towns expected to be hardest hit. 

It’s possible residents may have had access to more detailed warnings via local radio or weather apps for those with smartphones.

The major storms came just days after Pyongyang hosted a delegation from Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) for multiple days of meetings.

Edited by Bryan Betts