Pyongyang [North Korea], August 10: The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on August 10 that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had just visited North Pyongan province, met with people affected by floods and said he would take care of the people without needing help from abroad.
The leader visited the area from August 8 to 9 and announced an "emergency system" to bring all children and students from flood-hit families in North Pyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces to Pyongyang to attend school in a safe and convenient environment.
The state will cover the costs until the flood recovery is complete. He also promised to provide state protection and care for the elderly and sick, and honor disabled soldiers and newborn mothers after bringing them to Pyongyang.
"Child care, education and training are top state issues that must never be abandoned in any emergency situation," he said.
Mr. Kim condemned South Korean media reports of severe flood damage in North Korea as "fabrication" and "politically motivated false propaganda," and declared that flood victims were "all safe and healthy."
He thanked countries and international organizations for offering humanitarian assistance, but pledged to overcome flood damage without outside assistance.
"He said that what we consider best in all areas and processes of state affairs is firm trust in the people and a thorough way of solving problems based on self-reliance," the news agency quoted Mr. Kim as saying.
Over the past week, the Korean Red Cross, the United Nations Children's Fund, Russia and China have offered to help North Korea with relief supplies for flood victims.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper