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)