Kim Jong-un has not been seen since September 3rd, 2014. The question surrounding the whereabouts of Kim Jog-un deepened Friday after the North Korean leader seemed to have missed a ceremony to pay tribute to his father and grandfather. This was a very important national anniversary, which raises more questions about why Kim Jong-un was not present for it. Kim’s name was also not on the list of attendees at the Kamsusuan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on the 69th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers’ Party of North Korea, issued by state news agency KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) on Friday. The Workers’ Party, founded in 1945, is North Korea’s political party and is considered one of the country’s most important institutions alongside the military.
Kim has not been seen in public since he went to a concert with his wife on September 3rd, 2014. This has been his longest absence from the public eye and official events since he made his first public appearance in 2010. State media tried to explain Kim’s disappearance by saying that he was experiencing “discomfort”. Kim Jong-un had been seen limping earlier in the summer, supporting theories ranging from weight gain to gout, while others believe that Kim is being pushed out of power within the North Korean leader circle. Because not much is known about North Korea’s internal politics, observers follow government functions and ceremonies to see who appears in public and who does not as indication of political power.
South Korea’s defense minister told reporters that Kim Jong-un was probably staying in one of his homes near an exclusive hospital in North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, with his wife and sister. This facility that Kim may be staying in is known to be an exclusive facility catering to high-ranking members of North Korea’s ruling party.
Senior officials in U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration believe there is no indication that Kim has been sidelined or is in very bad health. While there is little information available, the officials said Kim is believed to have non-life-threatening medical problems. One Senior U.S. official said, “He is overweight, smokes and drinks heavily and doesn’t do any exercise. He can’t be in good shape, but there is no indication of serious trouble in terms of health or stability” (CNN.com). The sources downplayed Kim’s absence from the tribute on October 3rd and said there was no reason to think that other members of the regime had marginalized him. The officials noted that previous North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il also disappeared for long periods of time, only to return and reject rumors about their leadership.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/10/world/asia/kim-jong-un-north-korea/index.html?hpt=hp_t1