Devastating floods pound North Korea

Heavy rains unleashed devastating floods across North Korea's border region, killing at least 133 people, and forcing more than 100,000 to flee their homes.

A report by North Korea's state media, KCNA, called it the worst "climatic phenomenon" in more than 70 years hit the region, causing "huge losses."

Heavy rains in late August and early September caused extensive damage along the Tumen River (which separates North Korea from its Chinese and Russian neighbors), according to the North's state media.

The government is only now reporting the catastrophe now, a week or more after the devastation hit.

The North described the flooding as the worst to hit the region in decades. Nearly 25,000 homes were completely destroyed, while another 11,000 have been damaged. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said 8,700 public building have also been damaged.

More than 39,500 acres (16,000 hectares) of farmland have been inundated and at least 140,000 people urgently need help, according to the agency.

OCHA said a group of aid agencies, including the UN agencies, the international Red Cross, North's Red Cross and other international NGOs, have visited parts of the flood-stricken region last week to assess the damage and people's needs.

UN releases stockpiles

The UN said aid agencies have released material from stockpiles in the North, including food and shelter.

A truck carrying emergency supplies including oral rehydration salts, medical kits, vitamin supplements and water purification tablets left Pyongyang September 5th on its way to the affected area. The agency added that further supplies were on the way.

Meanwhile, the Pyongyang government was working to reopen roads and was distributing relief goods and building materials. The priority is to rebuild 20,000 homes by early October, before the harsh Korean winter sets in.

Pyongyang says a nationwide mass-mobilization, 200-day labor campaign, intended to bolster the economy has been redirected to assist the flood victims.

The impoverished North is susceptible to natural disasters, particularly floods, due to a combination deforestation and poor infrastructure.

The natural disaster did not stop North Korea from testing its latest nuclear bomb on Friday - its most powerful blast to date. And South Korea says the North is preparing another nuclear test that could occur any day.

Major state resources are swallowed up by the government's nuclear weapons program, as well as its long-range missile program, which Pyongyang says is essential to deter US aggression.

Another devastating rain storm struck North Korea in the summer of 2012, killing at least 169 people.

bik/rc (AFP, Reuters)