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THREAD: Sources report nothing unusual in Pyongyang amid Kim Jong Un health rumors swirl https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587440750664
Unconfirmed reports first emerged in the Seoul-based Daily NK on Monday that the DPRK leader had undergone heart surgery. https://www.dailynk.com/%EA%B9%80%EC%A0%95%EC%9D%80-%EC%B5%9C%EA%B7%BC-%EC%8B%AC%ED%98%88%EA%B4%80-%EC%8B%9C%EC%88%A0-%EB%B0%9B%EC%95%98%EB%8B%A4%EC%97%AC%EC%A0%84%ED%9E%88-%ED%8A%B9%EA%B0%81%EC%84%9C-%EC%B9%98/
After Reuters picked up Monday's Daily NK report this morning, those rumors were compounded by a report from CNN, citing an unnamed US intelligence official as saying they were “monitoring intelligence” that Kim was in “grave danger." https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/20/politics/kim-jong-un-north-korea/index.html
Speaking to @nknewsorg today, one source in Pyongyang said that schools had begun reopening after an extended #COVID19 break and that there'ss “nothing unusual for the time being.”
Life is continuing as normal in Pyongyang, multiple sources told NK News. https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
Life is continuing as normal in Pyongyang, multiple sources told NK News. https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
In light of Tuesday's rumors, a former US intelligence source confirmed to @nknewsorg that the US “is definitely monitoring this,” noting Kim’s prior issues with his leg.
But the source cautioned about reading too deeply into the increasingly viral news. https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
But the source cautioned about reading too deeply into the increasingly viral news. https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
The White House declined to comment.
South Korea’s Presidential office: “No special trends have been detected inside North Korea.” https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
South Korea’s Presidential office: “No special trends have been detected inside North Korea.” https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
Several developments during the past week did raise questions about Kim Jong Un's whereabouts, however.
- Kim Jong Un skipped annual public event that marks the anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birthday
- State media made no mention at all of a reported cruise missile test last week
- Kim Jong Un skipped annual public event that marks the anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birthday
- State media made no mention at all of a reported cruise missile test last week
Kim Jong Un last appeared in official state media on the front-page of the April 12 edition of state newspaper Rodong Sinmun, guiding a meeting of the country’s ruling party Politburo.
https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
A Korean-text rumor was circulating in Seoul over the weekend that suggested Kim was “brain dead” after botched surgery.
Much of the text reused wording from rumor circulated in Korea 2014, when Kim disappeared for 40 days before re-emerging with a cane. https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
Much of the text reused wording from rumor circulated in Korea 2014, when Kim disappeared for 40 days before re-emerging with a cane. https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
“First of all, we have to be very careful about all these kinds of rumors...He might indeed be sick, but despite his weight, and bad health, he is young and has access to very good medical care," says @andreilankov. https://www.nknews.org/2020/04/life-continues-as-normal-in-pyongyang-as-kim-jong-un-health-rumors-swirl/?t=1587439021676
