Year after year, North Korea’s people find themselves at nature’s mercy as climate catastrophes plague the country, leaving behind numerous deaths, destroyed houses and ravaged crops.

But as the country faces a scorching heat wave this summer while simultaneously bracing for severe floods, the state appears to be elevating its disaster management strategy under the aegis of a new ministry.

A report aired by the state-owned Korean Central Television (KCTV) last Thursday revealed the existence of the previously unknown Ministry of Disaster Prevention, an apparent upgrade of the erstwhile State Emergency Disaster Committee.

Little is known about the supposed