Cheongwadae and Ministry of Unification "No Matters to Confirm"
National Intelligence Service "Sharing Information and Monitoring Between South Korea and the US"
Kim Jong-un Absent from Sun's Day Tribute, Health Rumors Spread
Serious Illness Rumors Also in 2014, but Reappeared After 40 Days
On the 12th, Korean Central TV reported that Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, inspected the pursuit attack aircraft regiment under the Western District Air and Anti-Aircraft Corps. Chairman Kim is seen shielding his eyes from the sunlight with his hand while watching a fighter jet take off.
The South Korean government stated on the 21st that it is monitoring the situation regarding reports from the U.S. CNN network that U.S. authorities are closely watching information that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is in a critical condition following surgery, but no unusual developments have been detected.
A Ministry of Unification official told reporters on the same day, "We are aware of the matter through media reports" and "We are monitoring the situation."
He added, "The report indicates that U.S. officials are monitoring the situation regarding Kim Jong-un's recent health issues following surgery, and that the U.S. is also keeping an eye on rumors about his health," urging an accurate understanding of the report's content.
In other words, CNN did not directly confirm that Kim Jong-un is in a critical condition, but reported that U.S. officials are aware of such news and information and are monitoring the situation.
Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the Blue House, also stated regarding rumors about Kim Jong-un's health, "There is nothing to confirm, and no unusual internal developments in North Korea have been identified so far."
The National Intelligence Service also said in an official statement, "We are sharing information between South Korea and the U.S. and monitoring the related matters."
CNN's report came amid growing rumors about Kim Jong-un's health after he did not pay respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on April 15, the birthday of Kim Il-sung (Day of the Sun). This was the first time since Kim Jong-un officially took power in 2012 that he did not visit the palace on his grandfather Kim Il-sung's birthday.
There were also reports that Kim Jong-un underwent cardiovascular surgery and is currently recovering. On the 20th, Daily NK, a North Korea-focused media outlet, cited local sources reporting that Kim Jong-un received cardiovascular treatment on the 12th at Hyangsan Clinic, a private hospital for the Kim family located in the Myohyangsan area of North Pyongan Province, and is recuperating at a nearby villa.
Kim Jong-un's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, and father, Kim Jong-il, both died of acute myocardial infarction. Particularly, Kim Jong-il, who enjoyed smoking and drinking, suffered from hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.
Given that heart disease runs in the Kim family, experts have long speculated that Kim Jong-un is not exempt from cardiovascular diseases. He has all the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including family history, severe obesity, smoking, and overwork.
On the 11th, North Korea held a Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting chaired by Chairman Kim Jong-un to discuss measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 12th. Chairman Kim Jong-un is speaking at the Political Bureau meeting.
However, since information about Kim Jong-un's movements and personal status is kept strictly confidential even within North Korea, cautious assessments suggest that the validity of related reports remains to be seen.
A Ministry of Unification official said regarding this report, "The Ministry has no official comments on rumors about Kim Jong-un's health."
In fact, this is not the first time rumors about Kim Jong-un's health have surfaced. In September 2014, when Kim Jong-un did not attend the 2nd session of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly and did not visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on October 10 as he did every year, rumors circulated that he was in a brain-dead state.
However, about 40 days later, Kim Jong-un appeared publicly during an on-site inspection of the Pyongyang Scientist Residential District, dispelling the rumors. At that time, the National Intelligence Service revealed that Kim Jong-un had undergone surgery to remove a cyst on his ankle during the period he was not seen.
Meanwhile, even if rumors about Kim Jong-un's health are true, experts believe the likelihood of a sudden crisis occurring in North Korea is low.
Jung Sung-jang, director of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, explained, "Even if there is a health issue with Kim Jong-un, his younger sister Kim Yo-jong, a candidate member of the Workers' Party Central Committee Political Bureau and a 'Baekdu bloodline' member, already wields considerable influence, and the North Korean leadership shares an interest in maintaining the regime, so the possibility of a sudden crisis in North Korea is slim."
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