Kim Jong Un is appearing publicly for the first time in weeks and seems to be in good health.
- Kim Jong Un smiles and smokes again
- Images of the dictator of North Korea released
- Donald Trump * wishes North Korea's dictator all the best
Update from May 3, 2020, 4:05 p.m .: Kim Jong We reckon we are returning to the political world stage at the other end of the world: Donald Trump . The US president wrote on Twitter that he was "happy" that Kim Jong Un was "back and healthy".
The two heads of state from the United States and North Korea have a changeable friendship. After initial provocations, they soon wrote letters. Kim finally invited Trump to North Korea, accepted the invitation, and became the first U.S. President to ever step on North Korean soil - if only in the demilitarized zone in the border area and only for a few steps.
North Korea: Kim Jong Un smiles and smokes again - pictures released
Update, 1:17 p.m .: The authenticity of the images by North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un has been assessed differently so far. The South Korean Ministry of Unification confirmed the appearance of the dictator from the neighboring country. "Groundless reports about North Korea have recently created unnecessary confusion in the areas of economy, security, and society," the ministry said.
The US news channel CNN, on the other hand, appears to be more skeptical. The authenticity of the pictures cannot yet be confirmed beyond any doubt. That applies to the place where the pictures were supposedly taken as well as the time.
The photos show Kim Jong Un , who is smiling and smoking at a new fertilizer factory. The sole ruler of North Korea is shown, among other things, in the company of his sister r, who was already traded as his successor. The ceremony in the factory said that Kim Jong Un had visited several locations on the factory premises and obtained information about the production process.
Update from May 02, 2020, 9:20 am: The regime in North Korea has reportedly published current photos of ruler Kim Jong Un . Kim is said to have participated in the opening of a fertilizer factory. The dictator smiles in the pictures and seems to be in excellent health.
The sole ruler of North Korea had disappeared from the scene for around three weeks. There was speculation about a possible operation, even coma or the death of Kim was mentioned. No reason was given in the state media for the long absence of the sole ruler.
Where's Kim Jong Un? Speculations about the succession begin
Update, April 29, 2020, 5:15 p.m .: The rumors about the health of North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un do not stop . The country remains silent and speculation about the possible succession has already begun.
Kim Jong Our little sister : Kim Yo Jong is obviously very popular. The 32-year-old is already a deputy member of the Politburo, one of the most powerful institutions within the communist dictatorship on the Corean peninsula.
If she followed her brother, a tradition would continue that has been practiced in North Korea since the state was founded. Kim's predecessor in office was his father, Kim Jong Il . And his predecessor was Kim's grandfather, founder of the state Kim Il Sung .
The "Eternal President" Kim Il Sung is still the official head of state and party leader and has never been officially declared dead. When Kim's father Kim Jong Il died in 2012, the whole country was condemned to mourn and a gigantic funeral service was held. An official declaration of death for Kim Jong Un from North Korea could never be made like his grandfather's or could be very pompous for his father.
Trump says Kim Jong Un is alive - US President: "I wish him all the best"
Update, April 28, 2020, 12.45 p.m .: Amidst speculation about the whereabouts of North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un , US President Donald Trump has indirectly stated that he is still alive. When asked if he had any new information about Kim's health, Trump said at a press conference at the White House on Monday, "Yes, I know pretty well, but I can't talk about it now. I only wish him all the best. "
"I hope he's fine," Donald Trump told the media. "I know how he's doing, relatively speaking." The media "would probably find out in the not too distant future" what was wrong with Kim.
Coronavirus - USA
© picture alliance / dpa
Recently, there had been increased speculation about Kim's health after he had not been seen in public for more than two weeks and had not attended the celebrations for his grandfather and founder, Kim Il Sung's birthday, on April 15 - the most important day in politics Calendar of the country.
Intervention on the cardiovascular system
The South Korean government security adviser said on Sunday that Kim was alive and well, according to reports that Kim had fallen ill and underwent urgent cardiovascular surgery.
First registration
Pyongyang - South Korea has reacted cautiously to reports that North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un is in critical condition after an operation. It cannot be confirmed that there are signs of serious problems with Kim's health, the Presidential Office in Seoul said on Tuesday. "Nor are there any unusual activities in North Korea." As so often before, the isolated country remained silent, an independent review of the information is not possible.
North Korea: Indications of a health hazard to Kim Jong Un
The US news broadcaster CNN, citing a government official, said there was intelligence intelligence that Kim was "in serious danger after an operation." CNN referred to a US government official familiar with the case.
CNN: "Kim Jong Un is gravely ill"
NBC: "Kim Jong Un is brain dead"
Reuters: "Kim Jong Un is fine"
It would be really nice to be able to trust our media right about now but they really make it impossible .
The Internet newspaper "Daily NK" in South Korea, which specializes in news from North Korea, also reported that Kim had to undergo an operation. After an operation on April 12th, however, he recovered under the supervision of doctors in a villa on Mount Myohyang, northeast of Pyongyang. "Daily NK" refers to an informant within the country. The latter assumed that the intervention might have been necessary due to several factors, including Kim's obesity, smoking habits and "overwork".
North Korea controls information about Kim Jong Un
North Korea did not comment on the reports. Although the country has always celebrated a leadership cult around its rulers, the communist leadership controls information about Kim Jong Un and his family extremely strictly.
Kim's absence from a ceremony commemorating his grandfather and former head of state, Kim Il Sung, who died in 1994, sparked initial speculation about his health on April 15. According to the Ministry of Unification in Seoul, it was the first time since his takeover in late 2011 that he missed a visit to the mausoleum on Kim Il Sung's birthday, where the embalmed bodies of his father and grandfather lie.
North Korea: speculation about Kim Jong Un
On April 11, Kim Jong Un had held an important party meeting in Pyongyang. Kim's birthday was on January 8, and his age in South Korea is estimated to be 36 years.
When Kim disappeared from the scene for weeks in October 2014, there had also been speculation about his health. The South Korean secret service then assumed that Kim had had an ankle cyst operated on and had disappeared for weeks. The cyst could re-form at any time due to the dictator's overweight, it said. (FR with dpa)
* fr.de is part of the nationwide Ippen editorial network
Rubric list picture: © KCNA / dpa
