Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended a helping hand to North Korea, offering humanitarian aid to assist the country in recovering from recent floods. The offer, which was conveyed in a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, expressed Putin’s sympathy and support for the challenges faced by North Korea in the aftermath of the natural disaster. The gesture highlights the growing relationship between Russia and North Korea.
The North Korean Central News Agency reported that Putin assured Kim of Russia’s willingness to provide immediate assistance to help North Korea deal with the damages from the floods. A similar report from Russia’s state news agency Tass quoted Putin as telling Kim that North Korea can always rely on Russia’s support and assistance in times of need.
The close ties between the two countries have been strengthening, fueled by speculations that North Korea has provided conventional weapons to Russia for its military activities in Ukraine in exchange for economic and military aid. In a significant development, Kim and Putin signed a pact in June in Pyongyang, agreeing to offer mutual military support in the event of an attack, marking a substantial defense agreement between the two nations since the end of the Cold War.
Kim expressed his gratitude for Putin’s offer of aid, noting the sincere friendship between the two countries during challenging times. Despite the offer, North Korea indicated that it has its own plans for rehabilitation and will consider seeking Russian assistance if necessary in the future.
Recent heavy rains in North Korea’s northwestern region caused extensive damage, including flooding thousands of houses, agricultural fields, and public infrastructure. The full extent of the casualties is not yet known, but the disaster has prompted efforts for recovery and support from both Russia and South Korea.
While South Korea also offered humanitarian assistance to North Korea, tensions between the two countries remain high, with North Korea showing reluctance towards accepting aid from the South. Kim Jong Un criticized South Korean media for what he described as spreading inaccurate information about the flood situation in North Korea, referring to South Korea as “scum.” Despite the verbal attack, Kim did not address South Korea’s offer of support during his visit to a military unit engaged in flood relief operations.