The secretive state – which is perhaps better known for concealing negative issues happening within its borders to the outside world – appears to have been relatively open about this latest disaster, with the official newspaper noting it was a “grave crisis”.

However, the report did not mention any casualty figures. It did say more than 4,200 North Korean residents were evacuated after “over 10 planes made as many as 20 consecutive round-trip flights”.

Even more unusual were the photographs of Mr Kim travelling through floodwaters in a black Lexus, according to Gordon Kang, a senior North Korean analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Previously, senior leaders fronted disaster management, Mr Kang pointed out. The…