{"id":9107,"date":"2020-05-06T14:44:22","date_gmt":"2020-05-06T18:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/thediplomaticenvoy\/?p=9107"},"modified":"2021-06-14T12:24:28","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T16:24:28","slug":"kim-jong-un-goes-missing-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/thediplomaticenvoy\/2020\/05\/06\/kim-jong-un-goes-missing-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Kim Jong Un Goes Missing (Again)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Daniela Maquera
\n<\/strong>Staff Writer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

After vanishing for two-weeks from all public appearances, the world is still without signs of Kim Jong Un\u2019s whereabouts and rumor have grown regarding his poor health. Kim\u2019s absence was first noticed on April 15 when he did not participate in the state celebration of North Korea\u2019s founder, Kim Il-sung. Kim Jong Un\u2019s absence at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun for his grandfather\u2019s birthday was \u201cunprecedented\u201d, according to The Washington Post<\/a>. However, experienced analysts on Korea call for caution when interpreting signals Kim Jong Un is in trouble.<\/p>\n

Due to the secrecy and closed off nature of North Korea, people have continued to circulate rumors of all kinds. The lack of real information has led news outlets and social media posts attributing Kim\u2019s uncertain conditions to multiple health issues. These range from a sprained ankle to being in a \u201cvegetative state\u201d after a heart-valve surgery gone wrong, according to The New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Initially, the Daily NK website reported that Kim underwent an operation on April 12 at a hospital near Mount Myohyang, The Washington Post<\/a> declares. Speculation broadened once CNN reported an anonymous U.S. official had said the U.S. government was monitoring intelligence that suggested Kim\u2019s grave condition post-surgery. Nevertheless, CNN<\/a> states that U.S. officials immediately downplayed such declarations.<\/p>\n

South Korean news media seemed to also disregard the veracity of these online rumors spreading to global networks. Instead, South Korean officials, along with the United States, looked for evidence about North Korea\u2019s recent activities through spy satellites. They seemed to fear Mr. Kim\u2019s unknown status could be a cover up for North Korea\u2019s military activities. A Washington-based website specialized in North Korea, 38 North, found a train in Wondan, an coastal town in the country\u2019s east where Mr. Kim had previously tested missiles. Some South Korean officials initially believed that Mr. Kim\u2019s presence at a missile test could be a facade to turn down speculation, despite the uncertainty about his whereabouts.<\/p>\n

It was not until recently, April 26, that South Korea\u2019s chief policymakers on the North rebutted recent reports about Kim being in \u201cgrave danger\u201d, The New York Times<\/a> states. Both the Unification Minister and Chairman of the foreign committee of South Korea commented that the alleged heart surgery could not have taken place at the hospital mentioned in the report as it did not have the capacities for such operation. According to Reuters<\/a>, however, they could not confirm anything when asked about the reports of Kim in Wonsan or the trip by a Chinese team of doctors apparently sent to assist in Kim\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cKim Jong Un is alive and well\u201d said Moon Chung-in, a top foreign policy adviser to the South Korean President, to the U.S. news outlets. Such firm declarations have provided more clarity on the issue. Even U.S. officials appear to be supporting the South Korean government\u2019s statements regarding Kim\u2019s condition. Although this is not the first time Mr. Kim has disappeared from the public eye amid rumors of bad health, U.S. officials are resisting making final calls as they have been proved wrong in the past.<\/p>\n

The main skeptics of the rumors on Mr. Kim are North Korean defectors. From their first-hand experience living within this secretive country, former officials and journalists do not think possible Mr. Kim\u2019 trusted aides and office members would have dared to leak information regarding his health. Although no one expects North Korea to make official announcements regarding Kim\u2019s health based on past cases, his disappearance has indeed caused furor. The uncertainty has raised questions of North Korea\u2019s future without its emblematic leader, prevailing mainly in \u00a0U.S. and South Korea\u2019s foreign policies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After vanishing for two-weeks from all public appearances, the world is still without signs of Kim Jong Un\u2019s whereabouts and rumor have grown regarding his poor health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5092,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1919,382,386,1862],"tags":[420,865,1920],"class_list":["post-9107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-may-2020","category-international-news","category-asia","category-1862","tag-north-korea","tag-asia","tag-kim-jong-un"],"yoast_head":"\nKim Jong Un Goes Missing (Again) - The Diplomatic Envoy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/thediplomaticenvoy\/2020\/05\/06\/kim-jong-un-goes-missing-again\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kim Jong Un Goes Missing (Again) - 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