"Kim Jong-un, 17 Public Appearances This Year... Lowest Ever"
"No Unusual Activity" Regarding Nuclear Facility Trends
"North Korea, Temporary Surge in Imported Food Prices... Hoarding of Daily Necessities Occurs"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated on the 6th that there is "no record of any procedures, including surgery," regarding rumors about North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's health issues.
Kim Byung-gi, the ruling party's secretary on the National Assembly Intelligence Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, made this statement during a briefing following a closed-door report on current issues that day.
Rep. Kim said, "On April 20, CNN reported on Kim Jong-un's whereabouts. Prior to that, rumors had already circulated from various other sources. At that time, it was confirmed that there were no abnormalities, and intelligence was shared between South Korea and the U.S. authorities. The intelligence agencies found it burdensome to make a public announcement about this situation, especially since the period overlapped with the general election, so they were cautious," he explained.
Regarding the stop of Kim Jong-un's exclusive train in Wonsan, Rep. Kim stated, "The NIS did not report the fact that it was there at all."
The NIS said, "As of this day, Kim Jong-un's public activities this year total 17 times, which is about a 66% decrease compared to the annual average of 50 times during the same period in previous years," adding, "This year's number of public activities is the lowest ever recorded."
The NIS further explained, "Kim Jong-un has been focusing on internal reorganization by directly overseeing military power and party-government meetings, and with the overlap of the COVID-19 pandemic, public activities have been significantly reduced."
The NIS analyzed, "Kim Jong-un resumed activities on May 1 after a 20-day hiatus and attended the completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Factory as his first on-site guidance this year. This is interpreted as a message to the residents about solving food issues and an attempt to instill confidence in self-reliance," adding, "Even during the period without public activities, normal state affairs were conducted."
Regarding North Korea's nuclear facility developments, the NIS stated, "The Yongbyon reactor has been shut down since the end of 2018, no signs of reprocessing facility operation preparation have been identified, and there are no unusual activities at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site or the Dongchang-ri missile launch site."
Concerning North Korea's economic situation, the NIS reported, "In the first quarter of this year, North Korea-China trade volume decreased by 55% compared to the same period last year, amounting to 230 million USD, and in March, it plummeted by 91%. Commercial activities have been significantly contracted, including a decrease in the opening rate of Jangmadang markets," adding, "Due to price instability caused by a temporary surge in imported food prices, Pyongyang residents began hoarding daily necessities, leading to crowds and queueing at department stores and shops. Various price stabilization measures, including crackdowns on hoarding, have been implemented, resulting in a slight easing of the price surge."
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