Seoul plays down report on North Korean leader’s health
South Korea played down a report yesterday that the North’s leader Kim Jong-un was being treated after surgery, as speculation mounted over his absence from a key anniversary.
Pyongyang marked the birthday of its late founder, Kim’s grandfather Kim Il-sung, on April 15 — the most important date in its annual political calendar — but Kim was not seen in attendance.
Daily NK, an online media outlet run mostly by North Korean defectors, said Kim had undergone a cardiovascular procedure earlier this month and was recovering at a villa in North Phyongan province.
“Excessive smoking, obesity and fatigue were the direct causes of Kim’s urgent cardiovascular treatment,” it quoted an unidentified source inside the country as saying.
The report triggered widespread speculation, with CNN citing a US official saying that Washington was “monitoring intelligence” that Kim was in grave danger after a surgery.
A spokesperson for the South’s presidential Blue House said: “We have nothing to confirm and no special movement has been detected inside North Korea as of now.”
The South’s Yonhap news agency cited an unnamed government official saying reports that Kim was seriously ill were not true.
Previous absences from the public eye have prompted speculation about Kim’s health.
In 2014, he dropped out of sight for nearly six weeks before reappearing with a cane.
Days later, the South’s spy agency said he had undergone surgery to remove a cyst from his ankle.
“No-one knows what’s going on inside North Korea,” Martyn Williams, who is affiliated with the 38 North research website, said.
“Kim Jong-il had been dead several days before it was announced and it took everyone by surprise,” he tweeted.
“Kim Jong-un has been ‘missing’ before, and has always reappeared.
“That said, his absence this week was more notable.” The leader has not made a public appearance since presiding over a meeting of the Workers’ Party politburo on April 11.
On April 12, he reportedly inspected drills by fighter jets at an air defence unit.
There were no state media reports of any drills after the South said two days later that Pyongyang had launched a series of shortrange cruise missiles. —