Anchor: It has been more than two weeks since devastating floods battered the northeastern parts of North Korea. The nation's leader Kim Jong-un hasn't shown up at flood-hit areas so far. Instead, Kim visited an apple farm.
Our Kim In-kyung has more on why the young leader, who claims loyalty to his people, may be avoiding areas of the disaster.
 
Report: North Korea's state-run broadcaster has reported that the nation's leader Kim Jong-un visited a fruit farm in Gangwon Province.
 
[Sound bite: Korean Central Television (Sep. 18)]
"[Chairman Kim Jong-un] smiled brightly, saying that he is full by just looking at the dense mass of apples."
 
North Korea has called the recent floods in its northeast the worst disaster since 1945, but Kim has ignored the region for more than two weeks.
 
The only places Kim visited publicly last week were a farm affiliated with the army and an oxygen plant.
 
Following a flood at Rason on the northeastern tip of the country last year, Kim made two visits about one to two months after the incident when most of the area was restored. Kim attributed the recovery to his hard work.
 
Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korean Studies professor at Dongguk University says the North Korean regime could apply the same pattern in this case.
 
[Sound bite: Professor Kim Yong-hyun - North Korean Studies, Dongguk University (Korean)]
"The latest floods are said to be a man-made disaster. Rather than being held responsible, (Kim) is likely to appear during the restoration process, applauded by the residents."
 
Some analysts say that Kim may be concerned about his security at a time when the calamity has alienated the public.
 
Kim could also be avoiding the region due to the possible spread of infectious diseases just as he carefully avoids nuclear testing grounds which are exposed to high levels of radioactive contamination.
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.