김정은 "홍수 피해 관련 어떤 외부지원도 허용 말라" + 북한 조직개편 의미<br /><br />North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says he will not receive any foreign aid although flooding has taken a toll on his regime and has replaced the premier he named about a year ago.<br />The moves come as North Korea is facing flooding set to wipe out farmland and deal another blow to its already staggering economy.<br />Our correspondent in charge of North Korean affairs Hong Yoo reports.<br />North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says the North has suffered heavy damage from flooding, but because the risk of bringing in the coronavirus, his regime is not going to accept any foreign aid.<br />During a politburo meeting on Thursday, Kim brought up ways to recover from the flooding and guarantee the safety of the North Korean people.<br />But Kim said the North will keep its borders shut and make intensive efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.<br />Heavy rainfall early this month destroyed 390 square kilometers of farm land and damaged 16-thousand-680 houses and 630 public buildings.<br />In response to the North's flood damage, South Korea's Unification Ministry reiterated its stance on aid to North Korea.<br />"We will continue to promote humanitarian cooperation in non-political fields such as when a natural disaster like this flood happens. We are analyzing the impact of the flood in North Korea and that is all we can say at the moment."<br />During the politburo meeting, North Korea also appointed Worker's Party Vice Chairman Kim Tok-hun as the new Premier of the Cabinet and Ri Pyong-chol as a new politburo member.<br />Kim Tok-hun is known for being an economic expert and Ri Pyong-chol is known for his contribution to the regime's strategic weapons development.<br />There are concerns that Ri Pyong-chol's appointment could mean North Korea plans to continue developing nuclear missiles.<br />But experts say that's not necessarily the case.<br />"Considering the current state of inter-Korean dialogue and North Korea-U.S. dialogue, the regime intends to strengthen the Worker's Party's power and control over the military instead of strengthening the defense force by including Ri Pyong-chol as a politburo member"<br />Experts say that this restructuring to a 5-top leadership of the Worker's Party from the former three, with Kim Jong-un , Pak Pong-ju , Choe Ryong-hae , Kim Tok-hun and Ri Pyong-chol can be interpreted as an attempt to strengthen the Worker's Party-centered state management system.<br />Hong Yoo Arirang News.<br />
