Kim Jong-un, Once Declared 99% Dead... Revives After 20 Days

Appearing with a broad smile despite 'death rumors'
Cutting the completion tape alone without any sign of illness
Fake news causes unnecessary social confusion and costs
Experts: "Approach North Korea news cautiously with clear evidence"

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, who had been surrounded by rumors of death, resumed public activities after 20 days, demonstrating his vitality.
On the 2nd, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Chairman Kim attended the completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Factory on May Day (May 1).

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, who had not appeared for over half a month and was once declared 99% dead, showed up with a broad smile after 20 days.

North Korea's state media, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Workers' Party organ Rodong Sinmun, reported on the 2nd that Chairman Kim attended the completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Factory the previous day and personally cut the completion tape. This was Kim's first public appearance since presiding over a Politburo meeting at the Workers' Party Central Committee headquarters in Pyongyang on the 11th of last month.

Additionally, about 20 related photos were released. In the photos, Chairman Kim is seen attending the completion ceremony dressed in a black People's Army uniform with his hair slicked back with hair mousse.

Despite rumors of his death and claims that he was "clearly unable to stand or walk alone," he stood before a large crowd and cut the completion tape by himself.

In photos taken while touring the factory after the ceremony, Chairman Kim is seen smiling brightly throughout, standing with his hands clasped behind his back or arms crossed alongside accompanying officials such as Premier Kim Jae-ryong.

North Korea, which had remained silent amid various unusual rumors domestically and internationally, appears to have aimed to decisively dismiss these "speculations" with the report of the completion ceremony attendance and multiple photos.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Among the event photos released that day, the presence of Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of Chairman Kim and a key figure, also stands out. As rumors of "Kim Jong-un's incapacitation" spread, Kim Yo-jong was noted as a likely successor to lead North Korea.

She stood behind her brother, Chairman Kim, holding the stand for the scissors used to cut the completion tape, reaffirming her role as Kim's "right hand" and a core power figure.

Kim Yo-jong sat immediately to the right of Chairman Kim on the ceremony's presidium, occupying a seat of honor even above Kim Tok-hun, the party vice chairman who holds a higher official rank. Her seating position was traditionally occupied by Choe Ryong-hae, the first vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission and chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee, who did not attend the event.

Besides Kim Yo-jong, the ceremony was attended by Premier Kim Jae-ryong, party vice chairmen Pak Pong-ju, Kim Tok-hun, and Pak Tae-song, as well as party first vice chairman Jo Yong-won. However, Choe Ryong-hae, the second most powerful figure, was absent from the list of accompanying officials.

With Chairman Kim demonstrating his presence after 20 days, the "Kim Jong-un death rumors" that heated up the world are expected to remain a record-breaking farce.

Chairman Kim did not pay respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the mausoleum of President Kim Il-sung, on the latter's birthday on the 15th of last month for the first time since taking power, raising concerns about his health and even sparking death rumors.

Former North Korean defector and newly elected Future United Party lawmaker Tae Yong-ho said in an interview with CNN on the 28th of last month, "One thing is clear: Chairman Kim is unable to stand or walk properly on his own."

Another defector and Future Korea Party proportional representative lawmaker Ji Sung-ho claimed the day before, "I am 99% certain that Chairman Kim is dead."

Regarding the ongoing health rumors about Chairman Kim, the government has consistently emphasized that there are no unusual developments.

Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul repeatedly stressed at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the 28th of last month, "We have the intelligence capabilities to confidently say there are no unusual developments."

Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul is attending the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Regarding rumors about Chairman Kim's health, the minister said, "We have enough intelligence capabilities to confidently say that there are no unusual movements in North Korea."

This incident has prompted calls to reflect on North Korea's reporting practices.

An official from the Ministry of Unification said, "Baseless information related to North Korea has caused unnecessary confusion and costs in various sectors such as the economy, security, and society in our society. Going forward, it is necessary to approach information related to North Korea cautiously based on clear evidence."

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies pointed out, "There is a need for self-reflection among the U.S., Japan, and some domestic media who disregard our government's announcements and reproduce unverified information."

Professor Kim Dong-yeop of Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies said, "Due to indiscriminate spread, fake news has become a practical problem at the national level beyond just harm to individuals or groups. Since Chairman Kim's health can be a very important variable in the Korean Peninsula issue, this incident confirms that such farces are likely to recur."

Professor Kim added, "The production and spread of rumors about Kim Jong-un's health may be related to recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, our general election results, and the U.S. presidential election. It is necessary to carefully examine the various processes of generation and distribution involving defectors, foreign media, internet outlets, conservative groups, and individuals, as well as the points of origin, reproduction, intent, deliberateness, and manipulation."