North Korean state media called for preventive measures to minimize damage from heavy rain as the summer monsoon season started this week, laying the groundwork to blame local authorities for any damage and deflect responsibility from leader Kim Jong Un.

Following the recent plenum, local party committees and the Cabinet held a series of meetings to discuss measures to implement party policy. State media did not mention vice premier Pak Hun in its report, suggesting that he has been demoted after Kim Jong Un chastised him for neglecting an economic project.

Pyongyang issued a statement