[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] While the government stated that there are "no unusual developments" regarding the condition of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, Yoon Sang-hyun, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, strongly raised suspicions by saying, "If Chairman Kim does not appear within 10 days, the rumors of illness will become a fait accompli."
On the 27th, Chairman Yoon held a briefing at the National Assembly main building and said, "Looking at Kim Jong-un's recent movements, there have only been routine and ceremonial orders, with no personnel-related instructions involving direct signatures or policy decisions."
He added, "In the past two weeks, after Kim Jong-un presided over the last Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting, there have been no movements from other key figures," and said, "There could be speculation that they are all in Wonsan." He also pointed out that Kim Jong-un did not attend the Supreme People's Assembly delegates' meeting on the 12th and the Day of the Sun event on the 15th, and that the recent lockdown of Pyongyang is also an unusual development.
Chairman Yoon said, "On the 9th, a North Korean human rights organization flew drones from Paju to distribute leaflets over Pyongyang," and added, "In the past, whenever leaflets were distributed from Paju, there was immediate condemnation from the North, but the lack of response so far is unusual," supporting this speculation.
He continued, "The U.S. Congress passed a financial sanctions bill, but there has been no reaction to it, and despite ongoing rumors about the death of the supreme leader, there has been no response at all," adding, "Personnel matters, inter-Korean issues, and U.S. relations are all under Kim Jong-un's decision-making authority, so this ultimately means he is not performing normal duties."
Chairman Yoon pointed out, "It is possible to infer that normal duties have not been carried out since April 12," and said, "If no movements are reported or appear within ten days, the rumors of illness will grow stronger and are likely to become accepted as fact." He added, "If this fact is reported internally in North Korea, there will be internal unrest, so he is expected to appear within a week to ten days. Otherwise, there is a problem."
He emphasized that the attitude of Chinese authorities regarding the 'dispatch of medical personnel' also supports this. Chairman Yoon said, "Regarding foreign media reports that China sent medical personnel to North Korea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has neither clearly denied it nor acknowledged it, but has ignored and passed over it," adding, "If it were not true, China would clearly say so, as that is their style."
Meanwhile, the government maintains its position that there are no unusual developments as of this day. According to JoongAng Ilbo, Kim Yeon-chul, Minister of Unification, attended the 'Korea-China Vision Forum' hosted by the Korean Peninsula Peace Initiative on the 26th and reaffirmed the stance by saying, "I can confidently say there are no unusual developments." On the other hand, Baek Seung-joo, a member of the Future Korea Party and regarded as a 'North Korea expert,' weighed in on the suspicions during YTN Radio's 'No Young-hee's Start Morning,' saying, "When former State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il died in 2011, our government also said there were 'no unusual developments.'"
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