Kim Jong-un Resurfaces, After 40 days, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un resurfaced in public according to the country’s official news agency.
Nearly 40 days later, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a public appearance according to the country’s official news agency.
According to the news agency, Kim gave “field guidance” on Tuesday at a newly-built scientists’ residential district.
The pictures that were flashed showed the 32 year old leader standing with the help of a stick and in sitting position in some of the pictures. These pictures were carried mostly by the North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun.
Kim was out of public view since September 3 – his last public appearance. He had missed two most important North Korean national celebrations – the Foundation Day of the North Korean State on September 9 and anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Worker’s Party on October 10 – which mainly triggered the speculations about his absence.
The probable cause of his disappearance was attributed to a number of reasons including health, political turmoil, and a more dramatic house arrest by his rivals. But his resurfacing has confirmed the rare peculation yet fact that he is in control of things as always.
This logic was drawn from the fact that on October 4, a surprise visit was thrown to Seoul by a three-man delegation, headed by Kim’s trusted senior military adviser, Hwang Pyong-so, vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission and a former official in the country’s powerful but secretive Organisation and Guidance Department (OGD). Hwang had reportedly brought with him a personal message from Kim to President Park and the visit was intended to open up rare diplomatic space for renewed North-South dialogue.
Also, in late Septemeber, when Kim was unable to attend the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had received a handwritten letter from him, delivered by North Korean foreign minister Ri Su-young.
It is impossible to tell through photographs whether Kim is still ill, standing just for the photographer or recuperating from a surgery as he is shown with a walking stick in all of them.
BBC reported: “KCNA said that Mr Kim was briefed on the Wisong Scientists Residential District “before a map showing its bird’s-eye view” and that he then “overlooked it”.
“Looking over the exterior of the apartment houses and public buildings, decorated with diverse coloured tiles, (Mr Kim) expressed great satisfaction, saying they looked very beautiful,” the agency said.
It also said that Mr Kim visited the newly-built Natural Energy Institute of the State Academy of Sciences.
Although the news release was dated Tuesday, it did not specify on which day he made the visits.”
To spin another conspiracy theory, keeping in mind the BBC report, it may be said that the pictures were old and released just to end the storms of speculations about the leader and his disappearance.
If not, guess the hide and seek is over.
