While some observers question Kim Jong Un's absence from celebrations in Pyongyang last week, several media reports say the North Korean leader was recently operated on.
Last week, Kim Jong Un was absent from the celebrations of the 108th anniversary of the birth of the regime's founder, Kim Il Sung, who is the grandfather of the current leader, one of the most important dates on the country's political calendar.
Smoking, obesity and fatigue
Daily NK , an online media outlet run mainly by defected North Koreans, claimed that the North Korean leader had been operated on in April for cardiovascular problems, and that he was recuperating in a villa in the North Phyongan province. "The reason for Kim's urgent cardiovascular treatment was excessive smoking, obesity and fatigue," said Daily NK , citing an unidentified North Korean source.
This information has not been confirmed. But it sparked a flood of speculation. Quoting an American official, CNN for its part reports that Washington "is studying information" according to which Kim Jong Un is "in serious danger after a surgical operation", without saying whether this "information" is in fact the article by Daily NK . "We have nothing to confirm and no particular movement has been detected in North Korea," said a spokesperson for the Blue House, the South Korean presidency, in a statement.
"Too early" to draw conclusions about his state of health
Some South Korean officials, however, have expressed doubts about the credibility of the Daily NK reports. The coverage of North Korean news is particularly complicated, especially for everything related to the private life of Kim Jong Un, who is one of the regime's best kept secrets. The South Korean Ministry of Unification, which manages inter-Korean issues, and the Ministry of Defense declined to comment. The last time the North Korean media reported on Kim Jong Un's activities dates back to April 12.
And this is not the first time that its "absence" has fueled all kinds of speculation. Some experts therefore called for the utmost caution. "There is no confirmation at this stage and it is too early to draw conclusions about his state of health," said Ahn Chan-il, a northern defector who became a researcher in Seoul. He noted that a heart operation involved state-of-the-art medical equipment which is "only found in Pyongyang facilities". It would be "unreasonable" to transport it elsewhere for the operation.
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