After several days of speculation and missing multiple state-run events, the health of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, remains a mystery.
After unprecedentedly missing an annual birthday celebration honoring his late grandfather, Kim Il-Sung, on April 15, as well as a missile test the day before, rumors began to swirl about the leader’s well-being.
On April 20th, it was reported by Daily NK, a South Korean news outlet administered by North Korean defectors, that Kim underwent cardiovascular surgery on April 12th and was suffering from post-surgery complications. The following day, it was reported by CNN that Kim was in “grave danger.”
State-run media has remained silent about the health of the leader, allowing rumors to circulate without response.
“There have been a number of recent rumors about Kim’s health (smoking, heart and brain). If Kim is hospitalized, it would explain why he wasn’t present on the important April 15th celebrations,” said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA deputy division chief for Korea to CNN.
A report from South Korea’s presidential office, however, contradicted and downplayed outlet reports in a memo to NBC News.
“We confirm that Chairman Kim Jong Un is currently touring provincial areas with his close aides and we do not detect evidence[s] to support speculation about his ill health,” the office reported to NBC News.
If Kim is ill, however, it raises the question as to who is, not only running the country at the moment, but who would succeed him. There currently is no line of succession in North Korea, but it is speculated that his sister, Kim Yo Jong, or one of his young children could fill his spot.
As for now, everything is contingent on the health and recovery of the leader.
“We’re monitoring these reports very closely,” said Robert O’Brien, National Security Advisor to the United States. “As you know, North Korea is a very closed society.”
