Pyongyang [North Korea], August 4: According to the state news agency KCNA, Mr. Kim Jong-un criticized the South Korean media for spreading false rumors that the death toll was over 1,000 or 1,500. According to Mr. Kim, the flood reports were a smear campaign to humiliate and tarnish the image of North Korea.
The comments came just days after South Korea offered humanitarian aid to North Korea. Over the past week, India, China, Pakistan and North Korea have all suffered torrential rains that have killed hundreds of people in total.
Earlier, South Korea's TV Chosun reported that the number of dead and missing people due to flooding in North Korea could reach 1,500, and mentioned the possibility that rescuers died in helicopter crashes.
Heavy rains and flooding in northern North Korea appear to have caused significant damage to railways and other infrastructure in a key trading hub near China, dealing a serious blow to the economy, according to Nikkei Asia . About 4,100 homes and 3,000 hectares of farmland were flooded in Sinuiju City and Uiju County, with many commercial and residential buildings also submerged, according to KCNA.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the disaster site for three consecutive days to oversee recovery efforts. He also fired regional disaster management officials for neglecting their disaster prevention duties, leading to a higher-than-expected number of people needing rescue.
In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 3 offered humanitarian aid to North Korea, which has been hit by heavy rains and floods. KCNA said Putin expressed his willingness to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to recover from the floods.
In response, Mr. Kim Jong-un thanked Russia for the offer, saying that his government had taken measures to carry out the recovery work and that he would ask for help "if necessary."
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
