Over the last few weeks, there have been various speculations about the health and death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
While some presumed him to be dead, there were other sources which claimed that he was recovering from his cardiovascular surgery.
But latest information from South Korean intelligence agencies reveals that none of these speculations might hold water, and that Kim Jong-un is actually hiding from something else.
Kim Jong-un did not get any surgery, then why is he absent?
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service briefed the parliament and reported on the whereabouts of Kim Jong-un after his disappearance on April 12th. Although, the rumours of his death were put to rest when he appeared in public on last Friday, at a fertilizer factor near Pyongyang.
“The NIS assesses that at least he did not get any heart-related procedure or surgery. He was normally performing his duties when he was out of the public eye.”
He emphasized that Kim Jong-un has no heart-related problem.
He is avoiding public since 2020 started
This information is backed up by data as well. In 2019, Kim Jong-un made 50 public appearances throughout the year. But in 2019, he has made only 17 appearances so far. Which leads them to believe that he is actually laying low due to the risk of Coronavirus.
“Kim Jong Un had focused on consolidating internal affairs such as military forces and party-state meetings, and coronavirus concerns have further limited his public activity.”
Some zoomed in on his videos and “found” a needle mark on his arm
When he appeared in public last Friday, the video footage was examined and it seemed that he had a needle mark on his wrist. Doctors say that this indicates that Kim Jong-un indeed went through a heart surgery since this needle mark wasn’t present on April 11th.
However, the claim of such needle mark itself is dubious because you really can’t see a needle mark on someone’s arm in a prerecorded video, no matter how much you zoom in on it.
So we finally know why Kim Jong-un was absent from the biggest public event in North Korea
While Kim Jong-un’s sister is ready to take the reigns from him, he still is a valuable asset to North Korea and an important part of the anti-imperial resistance.
The most likely explanation is that he is just trying to avoid catching the Coronavirus, and that is why he has been avoiding public events and large gatherings such as his grandfather’s birthday on April 15th – the disappearance which led to the rumours that he was dead.
Featured Image Courtesy: Daily Express