North Korea held an emergency expanded meeting of the 22nd Political Bureau of the 8th Central Committee to establish recovery measures for flood-damaged areas in North Pyongan Province and Jagang Province. The meeting was presided over by Chairman Kim Jong-un of the State Affairs Commission from the 29th to the 30th in Shinuiju, North Pyongan Province, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency on the 31st. Chairman Kim was seen inspecting the flooded areas before the meeting.
The South Korean government’s expression of willingness to provide humanitarian support in response to the flooding in Sinuiju, North Korea, is seen as a political calculation to showcase support for North Korean human rights and environmental issues and to diminish Kim Jong-un’s leadership. Unlike his predecessors, Chairman Kim has not accepted South Korea’s humanitarian assistance since coming into power. It is likely that this offer, too, may end up as an unanswered plea.
According to the Ministry of Unification on the 2nd, the government attempted to convey its willingness to provide humanitarian support via the inter-Korean communication line at 9 a.m., but received no response from North Korea. North Korean media outlets, such as Rodong Sinmun and the Korean Central News Agency, have been focusing solely on Chairman Kim’s efforts in flood recovery, neglecting to report or respond to South Korea’s offer of support.
Despite the South Korean government’s gesture of expressing willingness to provide humanitarian assistance, there is a high likelihood that North Korea will reject or ignore the offer. Chairman Kim, having established a disaster response system by enacting the “Disaster Prevention and Rescue Law” in 2014, has been confident in rejecting South Korean aid offers. The tone of North Korean media reports, such as the one stating that “we can build a socialist paradise in the disaster-affected areas with our own hands,” reflects this sentiment.
Nevertheless, the South Korean government’s expression of willingness to provide humanitarian support undermines the significance of Chairman Kim’s on-site leadership in disaster relief efforts. He personally visited the flood-affected areas and took direct command. Some interpret this as an attempt to prevent any discontent among the affected residents due to the flooding. Additionally, this gesture may serve to inform North Korean residents of South Korea’s deep interest in North Korean human rights and humanitarian support, as evidenced by the designation of North Korean Defectors’ Day on July 14th.
Earlier, North Korean media reported on the flooding in Sinuiju and Uiju counties in North Pyongan Province, caused by heavy rain and flooding of the Amnok River on the 27th. While specifics on casualties were not disclosed, South Korean authorities mentioned the possibility of significant human casualties based on satellite image analysis showing widespread flooding in the area.
According to a source in North Korea, the flooding in Sinuiju was caused by heavy rain on the 27th combined with high tides, resulting in the water not draining out of the Amnok River area. As water accumulated in the tributaries of the West Sea, two-thirds of Sinuiju were reportedly submerged.