Kim Jong-un Refuses Help for North Korea Flood Recovery

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has announced that the country will not seek external assistance to recover from recent floods that severely impacted areas near the Chinese border. During a visit to the northwestern town of Uiju, Kim ordered officials to relocate approximately 15,400 displaced residents, including vulnerable groups such as mothers, children, and disabled soldiers, to Pyongyang for better care. He estimated that rebuilding efforts would take two to three months. The floods, caused by heavy rains in late July, resulted in significant damage, affecting over 4,100 homes and 7,410 acres of agricultural land in the city of Sinuiju and Uiju. While the North Korean government has not disclosed any casualty figures, Kim criticized public officials for their failure in disaster prevention, attributing the situation to negligence. State media praised Kim's leadership during his visit, highlighting his commitment to the welfare of the people. Despite offers of humanitarian aid from traditional allies Russia and China, as well as international organizations, North Korea has expressed no intention to accept assistance. Kim emphasized the importance of self-reliance in addressing the crisis, stating that the nation would only consider external help if absolutely necessary. This stance reflects ongoing tensions with South Korea, which has also offered aid but is unlikely to be accepted due to strained relations over military exercises and nuclear ambitions. During his visit, Kim accused South Korea of exaggerating the flood's impact, labeling such claims as a "smear campaign" against his government. Some South Korean media reports suggest that the actual damage and death toll may be significantly higher than reported by North Korean state media.