Kim Jong Un replaces minister Kim Jae Ryong as economy hit by floods2Photo1Video© hindustantimes.com

Kim Jong Un replaces minister Kim Jae Ryong as economy hit by floods

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un replaced the premier he named about a year ago and lifted a lockdown on the border city of Kaesong put in place on concerns a former defector who crossed back from South Korea brought coronavirus with him.

The moves announced in state media reports Friday come as North Korea is facing flooding set to wipe out farmland and deal another blow to its already staggering economy. The premier is seen as a steward of economic management and naming Kim Tok Hun to the post to replace Kim Jae Ryong could deflect blame off the North Korean leader for any hardships coming from a poor harvest.

The official Korean Central News Agency report said “Kim Jae Ryong was relieved from the premiership.” Kim Tok Hun is a senior cadre who serves as the head of the parliamentary budget committee.