North Korea says its leader Kim Jong Un has visited areas seriously affected by heavy rains in late July and has ordered workers to accelerate reconstruction projects.
The state-run Korean Central Television reported on Monday that Kim visited North Phyongan Province in the country’s northwest on the previous day.
North Korea said about 4,100 households had been affected in the flood-hit areas.
Kim reportedly said it is the most urgent task for the party and the government to “alleviate the pain of the flood victims as early as possible and restore the production and living order in the flood-hit areas to the normal level.”
The state media also showed photographs of Kim visiting the construction sites and encouraging workers there.
In August, Kim estimated that housing and other reconstruction work would take at least two to three months.
The North Korean leader apparently intends to showcase his determination to expedite disaster reconstruction efforts to the public ahead of the opening of the Supreme People’s Assembly on Oct. 7.
Meanwhile, Kim is also apparently keen to accelerate nuclear and missile development. Earlier this month, he visited a uranium enrichment facility and guided the test firing of the Hwasong-11, a new type of tactical ballistic missile.