North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is said to have expressed “bitter sorrow” after a fatal bus accident in North Hwanghae province killed 32 Chinese tourists and four North Korean citizens Sunday.
Kim visited the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang and a local hospital Monday “to express his deep sympathy over an unexpected traffic accident that claimed heavy casualties among Chinese tourists to the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea],” a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report revealed. “The unexpected accident brought bitter sorrow to his heart and he could not control his grief at the thought of the bereaved families who lost their blood relatives.”
It is very unusual for North Korean state media to report on negative occurrences and even more unusual for Kim to acknowledge such an incident personally.
In a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Li Jinjun Monday morning, Kim reportedly “expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathy.” North Korean state-run media reported that Kim not only visited accident victims — two Chinese citizens in “critical condition” — that evening, but also took a personal interest in the treatment and care of those wounded when the bus plunged off a bridge. China has reportedly dispatched a task force to oversee the medical care being provided to its citizens.
The relevant KCNA report did not mention any specific details of the accident, instead focusing on Kim’s grief.
Kim’s peculiar sympathy tour comes at a time when North Korean leadership is eager to improve bilateral relations with China. Kim traveled to Beijing in March to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The secret trip marked the young despot’s first state visit since he took power a little over six years ago.
The North also appears to be striving to change its image ahead of major summit meetings with the presidents of South Korea and the U.S. This process began with North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics and has continued with various goodwill overtures, the sincerity of which remains to be seen. North Korea is softening its image through a strategic charm offensive, the purpose of which is still unknown, as many observers are suspicious of Kim’s assertions that his country is willing to denuclearize.
Send tips to ryan@
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.