Silence North Korea Faces Kim Jong-un's Health Rumors

Kim Jong Un (Twitter / @ hokkaido_sechol)

JAKARTA - North Korea's (North Korea) state-owned media has so far not made a clarification on the health or whereabouts of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. It is known that widespread speculation about Kim Jong-un's health was sparked by media reports that he was seriously ill after undergoing cardiovascular surgery.

The speculation about Kim Jong-un's health first surfaced in his absence on the anniversary of the founder of North Korea, Kim Jong-un's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, on April 15.

However, state media, KCNA, still displays ordinary news such as displaying pictures of sports equipment, mulberry pickers, and meetings in Bangladesh to provide "juche" or the ideology of independence for North Korea.

North Korea's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, carries old or undated statements attributed to Kim Jong-un in articles on the economy, the textile industry, urban development and other topics. Kim Jong-un's name remains plastered throughout the newspapers, but there are no reports of his whereabouts now.

Daily NK, a media based in Seoul, South Korea (South Korea), reported that the leader of the dictator, who is around 36 years old, was hospitalized on April 12. The report is based on an anonymous source.

Kim Jong Un (Twitter / @ Hokkaido_SecHol)

It was said that his health had deteriorated due to heavy smoking, obesity, and overwork. Kim Jong-un is said to be receiving treatment at a villa in the Mount Myohyang resort in northern Pyongyang.

South Korean and Chinese officials and sources cast doubt on the reports. Meanwhile, US intelligence said they were closely monitoring the matter.

"I just hope he is well. I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un. And I want to see him do well. We'll see how he does it. We don't know if the report is true," Trump said in a statement. a press conference held at the White House.

Asked if he would try to contact Kim Jong-un to check on his condition, Trump said: Yes, maybe. But I just hope he's all right.

Unusual silence

Experts in North Korea have warned that the facts about Kim Jong-un's condition are elusive. However, experts say his unprecedented absence from last week's grandfather's celebrations signals that something is amiss.

Thae Yong Ho, a former deputy North Korean ambassador to Britain who defected to South Korea in 2016, said the silence of North Korean state media was unusual. North Korean media usually quickly dispels speculation that afflicts the leader of the closed country.

"Whenever there is controversy, North Korea will take action within days to show that he is alive and well," he said in a statement. Thae also added that Kim Jong-un's absence for the April 15 anniversary was unprecedented.

Kim Jong-un is the third-generation leader that rules North Korea, coming to power after his father, Kim Jong-il, died in 2011 of a heart attack. Reports from North Korea are notoriously difficult to obtain, especially on matters of leadership because they will be tightly controlled.

There have been past erroneous reports of its leaders, but the fact that Kim Jong-un does not have a clear successor creates instability that poses major international risks.