Kim Jong-un Continues Correspondence Activities... Experts Say "He Will Appear Soon"

Normal liver letter exchanges and gratitude to residents
Kim Jong-un's activities requiring 'approval' continue
Experts: "No basis for serious illness or death rumors"
Assemblyman Kim Byung-gi: "He will appear suddenly soon"

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.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, who has been subject to health rumors, is indirectly showing his presence through continuous correspondence activities. Despite the serious health speculations, Chairman Kim has consistently sent congratulatory and reply messages to foreign leaders and expressed gratitude to model citizens, which analysts interpret as evidence that there are no major health issues.

On the 27th, Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, reported, "Comrade Kim Jong-un sent thanks to the officials and workers who actively supported the construction of the Wonsan-Galma coastal tourist area." The domestic radio medium, Korean Central Broadcasting, also conveyed the same message.

Although Chairman Kim has not appeared in public for fifteen days, North Korean media continue to provide sympathetic coverage regarding him.

On the 18th, Chairman Kim sent a congratulatory message to the President of Syria, and on the 19th, to the President of Zimbabwe. On the 20th, he expressed gratitude to workers who demonstrated patriotic devotion. On the 22nd, marking the birthday of President Kim Il-sung (the Day of the Sun, April 15), he sent a reply message to the Syrian President who had sent a congratulatory message.

On the 19th, a statement was also issued under the name of the Director of the Foreign Reporting Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Korea. This was a rebuttal issued within half a day after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed to have received a "personal letter from Kim Jong-un," denying that any such letter was sent.

Jung Sung-jang, Director of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, said, "Such statements cannot be released without Chairman Kim's approval."

Given the nature of the North Korean regime, these activities require Chairman Kim's authorization, which ultimately indicates his continued presence and health.

An official from the Ministry of Unification also told reporters on the 23rd, "Chairman Kim has been exchanging correspondence with other leaders until recently," adding, "This can be seen as evidence that routine affairs are ongoing."

There is also growing speculation that Chairman Kim is currently staying in Wonsan.

The U.S.-based North Korea specialist media, 38 North, reported that a train presumed to be Chairman Kim's private train has been stationed at Wonsan train station since the 21st.

Moon Jung-in, Special Advisor to the President on Unification, Foreign Affairs, and National Security, said in an interview with Fox News on the 26th that Chairman Kim has been staying in Wonsan since the 13th and is healthy.

Director Jung said, "If Chairman Kim were in critical condition, he would have been immediately moved to Pyongyang, where the Bonghwa Clinic is located, rather than Wonsan, which has poor medical facilities," adding, "The rumors about Chairman Kim's critical condition or death have no basis at all."

In satellite images taken on the 15th of the train station near the Wonsan resort complex in Gangwon Province, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's train is not visible. The U.S.-based North Korea specialist media 38 North reported on the 25th (local time) that based on commercial satellite images, the train presumed to be exclusively used by Chairman Kim was not seen in the satellite image of the Wonsan resort train station taken on the 15th, but was observed in the photos taken on the 21st and 23rd.

Accordingly, there is also speculation that Chairman Kim may soon make a public appearance.

Director Jung said, "Signs of North Korea preparing for another missile launch have recently been detected," adding, "It is highly likely that Chairman Kim will soon reappear in public, either by attending a new missile test launch or inspecting the Wonsan-Galma coastal tourist area or the Pyongyang General Hospital site."

Kim Byung-ki, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, also claimed on his Facebook on the 27th, "The possibility of (Chairman Kim's) health issues is less than 0.0001%," and said, "Kim Jong-un will suddenly appear soon."