Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Water Resources Protected in DPRK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

    Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- Water resources have been well protected and managed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Today the water problem has been raised as a serious social, economic and political issue on a world-wide scale owing to the rapid growth of population, environmental pollution, global warming, ever-increasing demand for water arising from socio-economic development and so on.
    An international body made an announcement that the per capita yearly volume of water resources should amount to 5,00 10,000 cubic meters. The DPRK in which the yearly water volume per capita is 2,900 cubic meters has also directed due efforts to solve the problem of insufficient water.
    The government is conducting in a perspective way the work for the protection and sustainable development of water resources on the basis of the water resources law, environmental protection law, land law and the principle of payment by contaminator while increasing state investment in this field every year.
    Steps have been taken for making an effective use of water resources. They include construction of reservoirs on upper reaches of rivers and streams with a large amount of rainfall and rich water resources and large and minor hydro-power stations in different parts of the country including the Anbyon Youth Power Station and the establishment of a unified water commanding system and proper water control and management system.
    Gravity-fed waterways including Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway and Paekma-Cholsan Waterway have come into being, making water resources distributed rationally in various places of the country.
    Meanwhile, an early warning system was established for the purpose of correctly forecasting in time the water volume flowing into rivers and reservoirs in each season, month and ten-days and flood during the rainy season and preventing damage. Afforestation, river improvement and other land management campaigns have been launched every spring and autumn. And efforts are being concentrated on putting water resources management on a computerized and scientific basis. On the World Water Day (March 22), colorful activities calling for protecting and managing well water resources and saving water are being conducted among people.