In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim branded South Korea an “unchangeable enemy” and dismissed claims of widespread devastation in North Phyongan province as a “wicked” attempt to tarnish the North’s image.
There have been media reports in South Korea that the number of dead and missing from the floods could exceed 1,000. Kim claimed these reports were “fabricated” and part of a “slanderous propaganda campaign.”
The North’s border city of Sinuiju and Uiju County were hit by heavy rains earlier this month. To counter the South’s claims, Kim visited a helicopter unit involved in rescue operations on Friday.
Seoul offered humanitarian aid to North Korea on Thursday, expressing hope for a swift response. But Kim’s latest comments suggest Pyongyang is unlikely to accept the offer. The two Koreas have maintained a tense relationship in recent years, with Kim dismissing the possibility of reconciliation or unification.
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