Kim Jong-un: "No External Aid Will Be Accepted Regarding Flood Damage" (Comprehensive)

Held Party Politburo Meeting to Discuss Flood Recovery Measures
Kaesong City Lifts COVID-19 Lockdown After 3 Weeks
Election of Nuclear Development Leader Ri Pyong-chol as Executive Member Sends External Message

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un held the 16th Political Bureau meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party at the Party Central Committee headquarters on the 13th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 14th.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, held a Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting to discuss flood recovery measures. While the international community is extending a helping hand to North Korea, which recently suffered massive damage, Chairman Kim stated, "Do not accept any external assistance."

On the 14th, North Korea's state media, Korean Central News Agency, reported that Chairman Kim held the 16th Political Bureau meeting of the 7th Central Committee at the Central Party Headquarters on the 13th, stating that they "discussed and decided on the issue of quickly overcoming the flood damage and ensuring a stable life for the people."

North Korea disclosed the scale of the damage caused by the recent floods, reporting that 39,296 jeongbo (approximately 390 km²) of farmland were damaged, about 16,680 households' residences were destroyed or flooded, and over 630 public buildings were damaged. Roads, bridges, and railways were cut off, and a dam at a power plant collapsed. The report detailed that residents in severely affected areas such as Kimhwa, Cheorwon, Hoeyang, and Changdo counties in Gangwon Province, as well as Eunpa and Jangpung counties in North Hwanghae Province, are living in temporary shelters and enduring significant hardships.

Despite revealing the severe damage status, North Korea made it clear that it will not accept external aid.

Chairman Kim said, "Given the worsening global situation of the malignant virus spread, no external support related to flood damage should be allowed. The borders must be tightly sealed, and quarantine measures strictly enforced."

On the 11th (local time), St?phane Dujarric, UN spokesperson, stated at a regular briefing, "North Korea experienced an unusually large amount of rain causing floods," and added, "We are ready to assist if North Korea requests it." The European Union (EU), which also supported North Korea during the 2018 flood damage, has expressed readiness to help again if North Korea requests assistance.

While blocking external aid, Chairman Kim emphasized urgent party and state-level support for the affected residents.

He said, "The plight and suffering of flood victims who have lost their homes and belongings and are living in temporary shelters are beyond words. At times like these, it is our Party, not anyone else, that must take full responsibility for them, share their hardships, and come closer to them to alleviate their suffering."

Additionally, North Korea lifted the lockdown in the Kaesong area, where a special COVID-19 alert had been issued following the defection of a North Korean from Kaesong to the South, after three weeks.

The news agency reported, "It was decided to lift the lockdown of Kaesong city and the entire border area, which had been in place since July 24 due to an emergency incident in the frontline area, based on scientific verification and guarantees from specialized quarantine agencies."

They also discussed maintaining a stricter national emergency quarantine system and completing the quarantine command system.

The meeting saw a relatively large-scale organizational restructuring, including the establishment of new departments within the Party Central Committee and personnel changes.

On that day, a State Affairs Commission decree in the name of Chairman Kim was announced, appointing Kim Deok-hoon as the new Premier. Accordingly, Kim Jae-ryong moved to the position of Party Vice Chairman and Department Head.

New Premier Kim and Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, were appointed as members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee. Additionally, Park Tae-deok, former Minister of Agriculture who was dismissed in February, was newly elected as a member of the Party Central Committee and Political Bureau.

Park Myung-soon and Jeon Gwang-ho were appointed as candidate members of the Party Central Committee Political Bureau and Party Department Heads. Kim Cheol-sam was named the new Party Committee Chairman of North Hamgyong Province, and Ri Jae-nam was appointed Party Committee Chairman of Nampo City.

Notably, the election of Ri Pyong-chol to the Standing Committee is seen as a clear message regarding North Korea's external policy. He is regarded as a key figure in the development of North Korea's strategic weapons, including nuclear and missile programs. Due to his contributions to weapons development, he has earned Chairman Kim's strong trust and has been rapidly promoted since the end of last year.

In the context of North Korea's declaration to strengthen its "nuclear war deterrent" in response to U.S. military threats following the breakdown of the Hanoi North Korea-U.S. summit, attention to his role and position is inevitably increasing.