Kim Jong-un seen for first time in a month as death rumors reignite after Japanese minister says he may be ill
North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un ended his month-long absence from public view on Thursday, July 2, as he appeared at a political bureau meeting in the country. The Pyongyang dictator, during the meeting, praised North Korea's "shining success" in fighting coronavirus as the nation continues to deny having a single Covid-19 case in the region.
Kim's appearance at the meeting came days after Japan's defense minister reignited the debate over the dictator's health, stating that he has "some suspicions" that the Pyongyang leader was ill. Kim, since April, has been seen just eight times in public, he was last seen on June 8 at another bureau meeting.
Japan's Foreign Affairs minister, Tara Kono, last week stated that Tokyo had observed Kim making "unusual movements" as he traveled around North Korea. Kono had speculated that the unusual travel could be because of Kim's attempt to avoid catching the deadly novel coronavirus. According to observes, Covid-19 has been spreading across the hermit nation despite denials by North Korean officials. The minister, however, refused to elaborate further on his speculations, stating that he was "not allowed to discuss intelligence issues," according to the Daily Mail.
Rumors surrounding Kim's health and possible death began doing the rounds after he missed Day of the Sun celebrations to mark his grandfather's birthday on April 15. Considering Kim Il-sung is considered to be the country's "eternal president," the event was never before missed by any Korean leader. Reports of his ill health strengthened after a South Korean outlet, Daily NK, claimed that Kim had undergone a cardiovascular system procedure in Pyongyang on April 12 because of "excessive smoking, obesity and overworking".
However, Kim reappeared in public nearly three weeks later, making an appearance at the opening of a fertilizer factory. Slight differences in his appearance also led many to speculate whether the North Korean leader was using a body double. Some experts noted that he had gained considerable weight since taking power in 2011 and the photos did not show any signs of weight loss that would have comes with a serious health condition. The hermit nation's leader was also pictured wearing a Mao suit and sporting an apparent fresh hair cut.
The differences included a mark on his wrist, which experts suggested could be a "needle mark" left behind after surgeons inserted a stent to treat a possible heart attack. The mark was still visible in the images of his Thursday appearance at the meeting.
Weeks after the speculations over Kim's ill health, massive portraits of his grandfather Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, and father Kim Jong-il were reportedly removed from the main square of Pyongyang. Although the efforts seemed to be part of a major renovation in the region, the removal of the portraits fueled further speculations that preparations are underway to install a portrait of Kim there instead.
It was reported on May 15, that Kim had fired his head of security and head of the country's military intelligence agency. He reportedly also removed the commander of the Supreme Guard, who had been responsible for Kim's personal safety since 2010. Insiders claim that this could be an effort to tighten his grip on power.