Rejecting Aid, Kim Jong-un Accuses South Korean Media Of Reporting Floods In North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects flood-hit areas in the city of Sinuiju, North Korean Phyongan province Monday, July 29, 2024 (@xienxua)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un accused South Korean media of tarnishing North Korea's image by exaggerated the death toll from the recent floods that hit the northwestern region of the country. He also hinted at rejecting Seoul's offer of assistance.

Kim made the comment during a visit to the air force helicopter unit, where he praised his troops for helping save people from flooding.

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday August 3, during the visit, Kim denied South Korean media claims that 1,000 to 1,500 North Koreans had died from flooding and that several helicopters may have crashed during the emergency response. He described the report as a cruel slander by South Korea.

Kim labeled South Korea as an irreversible enemy and stressed that North Korea would never sacrifice its national defense to increase disaster recovery or people's living standards. This statement hinted that Pyongyang would reject Seoul's relief offer.

The South Korean government on Thursday offered to send aid supplies to address humanitarian issues facing North Koreans in flood-affected areas near the country's border with China.

The hostilities between the two warring countries have hit their highest point in recent years as North Korea's growing nuclear ambitions and the expansion of South Korea's joint military exercises with the United States and Japan counter North Korea's threats.

North Korea also rejected South Korea's offer of assistance while fighting the COVID-19 outbreak in 2022.

North Korean state media reports said heavy rains recently caused 4,100 houses, 7,410 hectares of agricultural land, and a number of public buildings, structures, roads, and railroads to be flooded in the northwestern city of Sinuiju and neighboring Uiju.

State media have not provided information about the death toll, but Kim is quoted as blaming public officials for ignoring disaster prevention, causing casualties.

During his visit to the helicopter unit, Kim said it was a miracle that no casualties were reported in the Sinuiju area and praised the air force personnel for successfully carrying out the rescue mission.

Kim also said that one helicopter made an emergency landing during the rescue mission but all the pilots survived, which appeared to be a denial of South Korean media claims about several helicopter accidents.