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Ifang Bremer
Ifang Bremer is a Seoul Correspondent at NK News. He has worked on investigations for The Guardian and The Observer and previously wrote features on Korea for Dutch newspaper NRC.
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News Putin offers flood aid to North Korea, but Kim Jong Un says no thanks for nowExpert says DPRK leader is pushing narrative that he can overcome crisis without outside help Ifang Bremer August 5, 2024 Kim Jong Un visits a flooded area on an inflatable raft. | Image: KCNA (July 31, 2024) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has thanked his Russian counterpart for offering humanitarian aid in response to recent devastating floods, but demurred on accepting help for now. In a letter sent to Kim on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote that Russia “shares the pain and grief of the friendly people of the DPRK” and that North Korea can “always count on [Russia’s] assistance and support.” According to Russia’s foreign ministry, Putin also extended his sympathy to “all who have lost their loved ones as a result of this natural disaster.” But North Korean state media made no mention of Putin’s condolences for those who died in its report on the letter, only stating that the Russian leader “extended deep sympathy and support to Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, and all the Korean people as regards the flood damage in the northwestern part of the DPRK.” Kim thanked Putin and said he would request assistance “if aid is necessary,” according to the Rodong Sinmun. However, the North Korean leader reportedly stated “that the rehabilitation work would be pushed forward according to the already-established plan as state measures were taken at the present stage to immediately repair the flood damage,” in an apparent effort to signal that Pyongyang has the situation under control. The remarks contrasted with Kim’s comments after the South Korean Red Cross offered to send aid last week, with the leader slamming ROK media on Saturday for spreading “vile slander” about the extent of the disaster. “[North Korea] appears to be trying to create a narrative of a crisis being overcome by Kim Jong Un’s leadership without outside help,” Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute of National Unification (KINU) told NK News. “By publicizing Russia’s willingness to help, it seems to want to show off the close ties between North Korea and Russia, but also to demonstrate to the outside world that it has the confidence to repair the damage without help.” North Korea’s border regions were hit by massive floods in late July. State media reported that flooding destroyed 4,100 homes in Sinuiju and Uiju counties of North Phyongan Province, near the border with China, while leaving an unspecified number of people dead. State propaganda was also awash with coverage of Kim Jong Un inspecting the damage and overseeing recovery efforts last week, with the KINU expert assessing that Kim is using the flood as an opportunity to boost his leadership status. “Since 2017, North Korea has made a point of staging crises caused by natural disasters as a form of crisis leadership,” Hong Min said. “Kim Jong Un went to the scene, took the lead, berated bureaucrats, mobilized all the manpower and equipment to help, building new houses and providing them to the victims, all in one story.” NK Pro analysis suggests the flooding was even more extensive than state media has claimed and that casualties are likely higher. Analysis of satellite imagery on Thursday revealed that floods wiped an entire village off the map and wreaked destruction along a river that runs through an area replete with military facilities. But on Saturday, Kim rejected claims that up to 1,500 have died in recent floods, even going as far as claiming not a single death was recorded in the hard-hit area of Sinuiju. Meanwhile, North Korea released water from the Hwanggang Dam near the inter-Korean border on Saturday without giving prior notice, according to Seoul’s Ministry of Environment, despite the risk of causing floods downstream in the South. The decision to open the sluice gates and release water in the Imjin River, which crosses into the ROK, reportedly prompted evacuations in ROK border regions. North Korea has repeatedly released water from the dam without notice over the years, most recently last month, even though it previously agreed to give advanced warning to prevent damage and loss of life in South Korea. Seung-Yeon Chung contributed reporting to this article. Edited by Bryan Betts North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has thanked his Russian counterpart for offering humanitarian aid in response to recent devastating floods, but demurred on accepting help for now. In a letter sent to Kim on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote that Russia “shares the pain and grief of the friendly people of the DPRK” and that North Korea can “always count on [Russia’s] assistance and support.” Become a member for less
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Ifang Bremer is a Seoul Correspondent at NK News. He has worked on investigations for The Guardian and The Observer and previously wrote features on Korea for Dutch newspaper NRC.
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