Beaming Kim Jong-un surrounded by flood-stricken North Korean children grasping for food

Kim Jong-un has been pictured surrounded by crying children reaching for food in a dining hall in Pyongyang.

More than 15,000 North Koreans have flocked to the capital after devastating flooding struck the country.

Kim has rejected offers for help, including those from Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying that his government has already taken measures to conduct recovery work. North Korea has denied that there were any casualties.

Kim travelled to flood-hit areas earlier this week in his bulletproof train, with his large armoured car on board.

Other photographs taken in Pyongyang on Thursday showed Kim being greeted by waving crowds as he visited lodging areas for those who had escaped the floods.

Kim greets the thousands of victims who have travelled to Pyongyang from flood-hit areas – STR/AFP

Kim and his entourage travel via dinghy in the North Pyongan province

Kim and his entourage travel via dinghy in the North Pyongan province – STR/AFP VIA GETTY

North Korea’s state news agency said thousands of victims travelled to Pyongyang from flood-hit areas in the North Pyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces.

Severe flooding struck North Korea earlier this month, with reports from South Korea that the number of dead or missing people could be as high as 1,500.

It is thought that more than 4,000 homes in north-western areas have been affected.

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