Kim Jong-un Still Strong Despite Weight Loss... Confirmation of Ri Pyong-chol's Dismissal (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, who was rumored to have experienced a 'personal incident' the previous day, demonstrated his continued presence by paying tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the 27th anniversary of President Kim Il-sung's death.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 8th, "Comrade Kim Jong-un visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun at midnight on July 8." Since coming to power, Chairman Kim has paid respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun every year on the anniversary of President Kim's death, except in 2018.

According to the tribute photos released by the news agency, although General Secretary Kim appears somewhat gaunt as if he has lost weight, it is confirmed that he remains in good health.

The day before, rumors of Kim's personal incident circulated on social networking services (SNS) through leaflets containing such claims, and some media outlets reported signs of a coup within North Korea. In response, the National Intelligence Service issued an official statement declaring these rumors 'groundless.' This report by the Korean Central News Agency reveals that the personal incident rumors were merely 'rumors.'

Present at the event were members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party and members of the Party's central leadership bodies. In the front row alongside General Secretary Kim were Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly; Jo Yong-won, Secretary of the Organization Department; and Kim Tok-hun, Premier of the Cabinet?three members of the Standing Committee.

Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a former Standing Committee member, was seated in the third row among candidate members of the Political Bureau wearing civilian clothes instead of a military uniform, confirming his dismissal from the Standing Committee. At the end of last month, during an expanded Political Bureau meeting presided over by General Secretary Kim, footage showing Vice Chairman Ri being reprimanded was released, raising the possibility of his dismissal.

Park Jong-chon, Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, who was presumed to have been reprimanded alongside Vice Chairman Ri, wore the rank insignia of Vice Marshal rather than Marshal and was seated in the second row but pushed to the far end, suggesting that disciplinary measures were taken. Kim Yo-jong, Vice Director of the Workers' Party, was seated in the fourth row and participated in the tribute.

On this day, flower baskets bearing the names of General Secretary Kim, the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, the State Affairs Commission, the Supreme Standing Committee, and the Cabinet were laid at the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

The news agency reported, "The General Secretary, who visited the Eternal Halls where Comrades Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il remain in their lifelike forms, respectfully extended eternal blessings to the Great Leader and the Great General, who built immortal achievements for the homeland, the people, the era, and the revolution through profound ideological theory, extraordinary leadership, and grand revolutionary practice."