Gunnam Dam discharging water from the Imjin River (Yeoncheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Im Byeong-sik = On the morning of the 15th, when the water level at Pilseung Bridge on the Imjin River exceeded the 1-meter threshold for evacuating riverside visitors, water is being discharged from the Gunnam Flood Control Dam in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do. 2026.7.15 andphotodo@yna.co.kr

Due to the discharge from North Korea's Hwanggang Dam, the water level at Pilseung Bridge, the northernmost point of the Imjin River in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, continues to rise, surpassing the 'Attention' stage of crisis response and requiring caution.

According to the Han River Flood Control Office on the 21st, the water level at Pilseung Bridge reached 7.69 meters as of 11:20 a.m., exceeding the 'Attention' stage threshold (7.5 meters) under the crisis management standards for border areas.

This is a rise of 4.98 meters from the 2.71 meters recorded at 6:00 a.m. that day, and nearly a 7-meter increase compared to the water level at 5:00 p.m. the previous day (0.73 meters).

The Imjin River basin manages floods in four stages based on the water level at Pilseung Bridge. When the water level exceeds 1 meter, the 'evacuation of riverside visitors' is triggered; at 2 meters, 'personnel evacuation during non-flood season'; at 7.5 meters, the 'Attention' stage for border area crisis response; and at 12 meters, the 'Caution' stage is issued.

The water level at the Gunnam Flood Control Dam, located downstream from Pilseung Bridge, has also risen, recording 31.029 meters as of 6:00 a.m. The planned flood level (the design standard level for flood preparation) of the Gunnam Dam is 40 meters.

As of 6:00 a.m., the Gunnam Dam was releasing 955 tons of water per second downstream into the Imjin River out of a total inflow of 1,532 tons per second.

The rapid rise in the Imjin River's water level in the border area is due to North Korea discharging water from the Hwanggang Dam, which is located upstream.

Based on satellite image analysis from the previous afternoon, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment determined that North Korea had begun discharging water from the Hwanggang Dam upstream on the Imjin River.

Although North Korea previously agreed with the South to provide advance notice when discharging water from the Hwanggang Dam, it did not notify the South in advance this time either.

An official from the Ministry of Unification emphasized to reporters at the Government Complex Seoul that day, "Given that joint responses to natural disasters are a humanitarian issue, responsible cooperation between the two Koreas is necessary."

The official added, "However, considering the current realistic constraints, such as the severed communication lines between the North and South, we are monitoring relevant trends using scientific technologies, such as satellite imagery, in cooperation with related agencies." [Yonhap News]