North Korean leader accuses South Korea of ​​smear campaign over floods, suggests rejecting aid

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accused South Korea’s “trash” media of slandering the North’s image by allegedly exaggerating the death toll from recent floods that hit the country’s northwestern region, and suggested he would refuse to Seoul’s Offer of Aid.

Kim made the comments Friday during a visit to an air force helicopter unit, where he praised the troops for helping to save people from floodsNorth Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency reported on Saturday.

During the visit, Kim denied South Korean media claims that 1,000 to 1,500 North Koreans had died in the flooding and that multiple helicopters may have crashed during the rescue effort. He described the reports as a “brutal smear campaign” by the South.

Kim called South Korea an unwavering enemy and stressed that the North would never sacrifice its national defense to improve disaster relief or raise people’s living standards — hinting that Pyongyang would reject Seoul’s offer of help.

The South Korean government on Thursday offered to send humanitarian aid to address “humanitarian challenges” faced by North Koreans in flood-hit areas near the country’s border with China.

North Korea had been widely expected to reject the offer. Animosity between the war-torn rivals is at its highest in years due to the North’s growing nuclear ambitions and the South’s expansion of joint military exercises with the United States and Japan to counter threats from the North.

The North also rejected South Korea’s offers of help, fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in 2022.

North Korean state media reports that recent heavy rains have destroyed 4,100 homes, 7,410 acres of farmland and many other public buildings, structures, roads and railways. flooded in the northwestern city of Sinuiju and the neighboring town of Uiju.

State media did not report any deaths, but Kim was quoted as blaming government officials for failing to take preventive measures, leading to “a casualty that could not be allowed to occur.”

During a visit to the helicopter unit, Kim said it was a miracle that no casualties were reported in the Sinuiju area and praised air force personnel for successfully carrying out the rescue missions.

Kim also said one helicopter made an emergency landing during the rescue mission but all pilots were safe, appearing to contradict South Korean media reports of multiple helicopter crashes.