Typhoon Hinnamnor, lower left, is seen moving gradually toward the Korean Peninsula, in this Sept. 4 composite image released by NASA. The storm is feared to worsen North Korea's already-serious food shortage problem. AP-Yonhap

Pyongyang calls for utmost efforts to protect crops

By Jung Min-ho

A monster typhoon ― packing violent winds and heavy rains ― is set to hit North Korea amid its struggle with infectious diseases, adding to concerns about food shortages.

According to Pyongyang's weather agency Monday, it is forecast to come under the influence of Typhoon Hinnamnor the following day. The tropical storm, the strongest one so far this year, is approaching the Korean Peninsula after slamming Okinawa, where more than 100,000 residents were advised to evacuate to shelters.

North Korean authorities have been scrambling to inspect the infrastructure at high risk of flooding or collapsing while ordering fishing boats in the sea to return to ports for safety, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The Rodong Sinmun, Pyongyang's official mouthpiece, called for utmost effort minimize the damage from the typhoon.

"If we fail to prevent damage from the storm, we will lose the precious crops we have been trying hard to grow throughout spring and summer seasons," the paper said.

It also shared tips for how to protect some of the most storm-vulnerable crops, such as corn.