Kim Jong-Un is in grave danger after a surgery says, a US official with direct knowledge of the North Korean leader’s health.
Kim’s alleged turn for the worse Monday evening comes after he recently missed the celebration of his grandfather’s birthday on April 15, which raised speculation about his well-being.
He had been seen four days before that at a government meeting.
Losing the dictator could leave the isolated nuclear-armed regime in a state of disarray as it scrambles to replace its ‘Supreme Leader’.
Among those who are believed to be successors is the leader’s sister, Kim Yo-jong.
Kim Jong Un is in grave danger after a surgery says a US official with direct knowledge of the North Korean leader’s condition.
Losing the dictator could leave the nuclear power in a vulnerable position as it scrambles to replace Kim Jong. Among those who are believed to be successors is his sister, Kim Yo-jong
The South Korean government on Tuesday said it was looking into a CNN report about Kim’s fragile condition after surgery.
Officials from South Korea’s Unification Ministry and National Intelligence Service said they couldn’t immediately confirm the report.
CNN cited an anonymous US official who said Kim Jong Un was in ‘grave danger’ after an unspecified surgery.
The Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean affairs, said it couldn’t confirm another report by Daily NK, which cited anonymous sources to report that Kim was recovering from heart surgery in the capital Pyongyang and that his condition was improving.
Speculation about Kim’s health was raised after he missed the celebration of his late grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung on April 15.
Kim Jong Un had failed to attend North Korea’s annual Day of the Sun ceremony for the first time, sparking speculation about his health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The celebration and holiday to mark the birth of his grandfather is deeply significant and Kim Jong Un has not missed it since taking power in 2011.
Neither Kim Jong Un nor his sister Kim Yo Jong, who is believed to be his second-in-command, attended the ceremony at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, despite many of his senior officials appearing at the wreath laying.
Pyongyang claims it has zero cases of COVID-19, but the disease is rampant in South Korea and Kim may have been advised to practice social distancing.
Although he is not in a high risk category for his age group, Kim’s heavy drinking, smoking and obesity would put the 36-year-old at grave risk if he were to catch coronavirus.
Kim has been highly active in recent weeks and has been pictured out inspecting his military, sometimes with officers wearing face masks, while he does not.
But political analysts believe his conspicuous absence on Wednesday could point towards a political message Kim wants to send, that he wants to step away from the ‘cult of personality’ surrounding the ruling dynasty.
It also comes after a massive reshuffle of his inner circle on Saturday, in which a third of his leadership council were given their marching orders.
His sister, believed to be in her thirties, was also reinstated in her role as propaganda chief after being booted out over last year’s bungled talks with Donald Trump.
‘Kim Jong Un wants to break away from the past, as well as the North’s traditional cult of personality,’ said Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defector and researcher in Seoul.
‘His message is that Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung’s times are now over,’ he told AFP.
‘He wants to come across and brand himself as a leader who is modern and competent, rather than a descendant of his predecessors.
‘And he wants to gradually tone down the idolisation of the two late leaders as it goes against his agenda to brand the North as a ‘normal state’.’
The ruling party’s claim to legitimacy has its roots in Kim Il Sung’s fight against Korea’s Japanese colonisers and for years the North’s official propaganda has promoted Kim Jong Un’s resemblance to his grandfather, in appearance, manner, and even handwriting.