Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday sent a consolatory
message to Kim Jong Il, leader of the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (DPRK), over the severe flood which plagued part of the
country.
In the message to Kim, who is general secretary of the Central
Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and chairman of the
National Defense Commission, Hu, on behalf of the Chinese
government and the Communist Party of China, expressed heartfelt
consolation to the DPRK government and the flood victims.
Hu also expressed the belief that the people in the affected
areas, under the leadership of Kim, the Worker's Party of Korea and
the DPRK government, will overcome the losses and rebuild their
homes as soon as possible.
According to reports from the official Korean Central News
Agency (KCNA) on Friday, severe rains between July 14 and July 16
have caused heavy casualties and huge property losses in the
DPRK.
"Hundreds of people died or went missing and tens of thousands
of houses and public buildings were destroyed partially or
totally," the KCNA said.
More than 12,200 houses and 690 buildings were partially or
totally destroyed by the heavy rains, which hit South Phyongan,
Kangwon and South Hamgyong provinces, the KCNA reported.
(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2006)