Where is Kim Jong-un and what are the latest updates on the North Korea’s dictator’s health?
NORTH Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is in a coma and is preparing to hand over powers to his sister, an ex-diplomat has sensationally claimed.
The dictator has been out of the public eye for a while, causing rumours of his death following reports that he collapsed and had undergone emergency heart surgery on April 12.
Is Kim Jong-un in a coma?
It has been reported that North Korea's dictator is in a coma, after a rogue few months out of the public eye.
An ex-aide to late-South Korean president Kim Dae-jung believes the state is hiding the truth about their leader's health.
Speaking with local media, Chang Song-min said: “I assess him to be in a coma, but his life has not ended.”
He spoke as North Korea reportedly handed over some powers to the dictator's sister Kim Yo-jong, 33.
Chang added: “A complete succession structure has not been formed, so Kim Yo-jong is being brought to the fore as the vacuum cannot be maintained for a prolonged period.”
The reason for him being in a coma is not known.
When was Kim Jong-un last seen in public?
Pictures emerged on Wednesday, August 19, showing Kim Jong-un attending a government meeting – for the first time in months.
Yet news outlet Reuters said it could not “independently verify” the images as they were released by the secretive country.
Before this, Kim had not been seen in public since May 1, which initially sparked international rumours that he had died.
There have also been reports that his low profile this year is down to Kim shielding himself during the worldwide outbreak of Covid-19.
What were the rumours around Kim Jong-un's death?
There was speculation this year that Kim had died or was in a vegetative state as he failed to appear at an important celebration on April 15, to mark the birthday of Kim Il-sung, his grandfather and the founder of the country.
Some reports, attributed to senior party sources in Beijing, said Kim had died after the Chinese medical team arrived too late to save him following failed heart surgery on April 12.
However, on May 1 he made a public appearance alongside his sister Kim Yo-jong, who had been tipped to succeed him.
He was pictured cutting a ribbon and speaking to officials at the completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Plant, the Korean Central News Agency reports.
The dictator made a short speech after inaugurating the facility according to KCNA.
He said: “When the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing Plant goes into operation, it will represent a historical development in our country's fertilizer industry, it will be a glorious revolution and a splendid display of our nation's great economic potential, and it will be an uplifting banner that assures us of the achievements of our country's general economic frontline.”
The report said that Kim "expressed satisfaction about the wonderful creation" and congratulated workers from Kim Chaek University of Technology, "repeatedly stressing that talents are a great source and a motive power of the development of the country."
Foreign intelligence services now think he had actually been hiding from the coronavirus pandemic in a secure luxury compound.
The rumours surrounding his health:
- Initial reports from South Korea claimed Kim was in a vegetative state after suffering a heart attack
- However, a North Korean defector claims the tyrant was in fact injured during a missile test
- South Korea later insisted he is in fact 'alive and well'
- In the West a top US Senator claimed Kim was ‘likely dead or incapacitated’
- But President Trump dismissed the report calling it 'fake news'
- Chinese journalist Shijian Xingzou said a “very solid source” told her the North Korean leader had died.
- China reportedly to North Korea to check on the leader's health.
- Rumours previously ran wild when Kim disappeared for a month in 2014 - reportedly having suffered a bout of gout
- A recent viral image that supposedly shows Kim Jong-un dead in a glass coffin has sparked rumours again.
In an effort to contradict the rumours of his death a state-run newspaper has reported that Kim sent a personal letter to builders working on a tourism project in Wonsan.
Wonsan is also the location where what is believed to be Kim’s armoured private train was spotted, and where he may be hiding out amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It is unclear if the letter was actually sent by Kim, and no new pictures of the leader have been released by state media.
None of these claims have been confirmed by North Korean officials.
The 'fake' picture of the dictator lying in a glass casket
Has Kim Jong-un gone missing before?
This is not the first time Kim has vanished from public and then reappeared.
In February 2020, he disappeared for nearly three weeks without any speculation surrounding his health.
And in 2014, he vanished for 40 days, sparking rumours he had been ousted in a coup, only to reemerge with a walking stick after apparently recovering from an illness or an operation.
Who is Kim Jong-un?
Kim is the second child of Kim Jong-il and wife Kim Yong-hui, and he was born on January 8, 1982.
Kim spent his early years alone at his family's beach home and in their luxury compounds in Pyongyang.
The future tyrant was sent to live in Switzerland when he was 12, with a "pudding bowl haircut".
He attended the Liebefeld Steinhölzli school - an English language institute near the city of Bern.
His old mates at the Liebefeld-Steinhölzli public school say Kim was a "funny, popular boy".
He used a fake Brazilian passport to travel around Europe while enjoying holidays in the south of France, Euro Disney in Paris, and Italy.
MORE ON KIM JONG-UN
When did he become North Korea's Supreme Leader?
His half brother had been favourite to succeed Kim Jong-il before he fell out of favour after a failed attempt to visit Tokyo Disneyland on a fake passport.
Kim Jong-un was formally announced as his father's successor on Boxing Day 2011.
Two years later Jang Song-thaek, Jong-un's uncle, would be executed in one of Kim's first purges.
Despite being Supreme Leader of the reclusive state he is technically not the head of it.
That honour belongs to his grandfather Kim Il-sung who was declared the "Eternal President" on his death in 1994.
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