PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has publicly denounced South Korean media for allegedly overstating the extent of flood damage in North Korea. This statement marks Kim's first public response to the coverage of recent severe weather events that have impacted his country.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim criticized the South Korean press, labeling them as "garbage" media outlets that have been disseminating "fabricated" news about the flood impacts in regions such as Sinuiju and Uiju County of North Phyongan Province. South Korean reports suggest the disaster has resulted in over a thousand casualties, either dead or missing. In his statement, Kim also reiterated his view of South Korea as an "unchangeable" enemy, accusing it of attempting to degrade North Korea's image through what he termed "wicked" propaganda efforts.