Story highlights A severe flood has exposed cracks in N. Korea's worker's paradise narrativeN. Korean state media reported on the Workers' Party's public appealSo far, 133 people have been killed and 395 people are missing(CNN) North Korea usually projects itself to the world as a fully functioning worker's paradise. Yet severe flooding in the country's northeast has resulted in a rare admission that all is not so well. Figures released by the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed the natural disaster. Citing North Korean government data, the report described how heavy rains resulting from Typhoon Lionrock had triggered flooding in areas such as Musan and Yonsa counties and Hoeryong City in North Hamgyong province. So far, 133 people have been killed, 395 people are missing and 140,000 people are in "urgent need of assistance."

Source: CNN September 12, 2016 08:48 UTC