SEOUL, Sept 30, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited
flood-damaged areas in the country and ordered swift action to rebuild homes,
state media reported on Monday.

North Korea experienced a record downpour in late July which killed an
unspecified number of people, flooded homes and submerged swathes of farmland
in its northern regions near China.

Thousands of displaced flood victims were relocated to facilities in the
capital while their homes are being rebuilt.

Visiting the construction site, Kim ordered workers "to alleviate the pain of
the flood victims as early as possible," according to the official KCNA news
agency.

Photos from KCNA showed Kim walking through the muddy site and speaking with
officials in front of partially built structures.

This marks his third visit to flood-hit areas, with previous appearances
showing him holding children, inspecting damage from a dinghy, and driving
through floodwaters in his luxury vehicle.

International offers of support have poured in since news of the flooding
disaster first emerged, including from South Korea which offered aid via the
Korean Red Cross despite the two countries' strained relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had also offered "immediate humanitarian
support" to aid its recovery efforts.

Kim has expressed thanks for the offers of help but refused to accept any
foreign aid, saying that the country's recovery efforts would be "thoroughly
based on self-reliance", according to KCNA.