Imjin River flood warning issued as North Korean dam release raises water levels in Yeoncheon

South Korean authorities issued a flood advisory on Tuesday for the Imjin River in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, after heavy downpours and satellite imagery confirmed an unannounced release of water from North Korea's Hwanggang (Gunnam) Dam near the inter‑Korean border.

The river's water level at Imjin Bridge rose to 7 m, increasing by 0.2‑0.3 m every ten minutes, while Pilseung Bridge recorded a peak of 8.1 m—above the 7.5 m threshold of the flood‑management scheme. Mobile safety warnings urged residents to stay away from the river and evacuate to safe locations, and the sudden surge pushed the Filseung crossing level to roughly 9 m, activating higher‑level flood response measures.