North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) inspects rehabilitation work in a flood-hit area of North Phyongan Province, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on Nov. 5, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected flood-hit areas and called for expediting rehabilitation to ensure its completion before a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) in December, state media reported Tuesday.
The visit on Monday to North Phyongan Province, reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), marked Kim’s third inspection of the site of flood recovery work in the region, where heavy rains caused large-scale flooding in late July, also affecting Jagang and Ryangang provinces.
Thousands of homes were believed to have been washed away at that time, though North Korean state media has not reported on human casualties.
During his visits to two flood-damaged areas in North Phyongan, Kim said he had “a heavy heart” but is really pleased to look at “the fine banks … and dwellings of peculiar urban styles being built,” according to the KCNA.
He expressed his determination to “complete the rehabilitation campaign at the highest level before the December party plenary meeting,” while giving instructions to successfully accelerate the reconstruction.
North Korea usually holds a WPK plenary meeting in late December to review major performances in the military, economic and other fields and set forth policy goals for the new year.
The KCNA said that a group of party officials accompanied Kim on the inspection, including Jo Yong-won and Ri Il-hwan, party secretaries.
Ri Hi-yong, chief secretary of the party’s North Phyongan committee, as well as commanding officers and the Paektusan Hero Youth Shock Brigade involved in the reconstruction, greeted him at the inspection sites.
With the latest inspection, Kim has made four visits to flood rehabilitation sites affected by the July flooding, including three to North Phyongan.
South Korea’s unification ministry said that Kim’s latest visit to the disaster-affected areas highlights efforts to promote his image as a leader caring for the people and appease public sentiment.
“He appears to be paying much attention to appeasing public sentiment by demonstrating that proactive rehabilitation efforts at the state level are under way,” a ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
(Yonhap)
