In the last few days there have been a spate of reports suggesting that North Korea’s deranged, murderous leader, kim jung-un, may have had significant surgery and may be in serious, possibly even grave, condition.
Even articles that attempt to downplay this aren’t able to do so – as seen by this excerpt from Kim Tong-Hyun’s article for the Associated Press:
(South Korea) said no unusual activity has been detected in North Korea and it had no information about the rumors regarding Kim’s health. Speculation often surfaces about North Korea’s leadership based on attendance at important state events. Kim, who is in his mid-30s, missed the celebration of the birthday of his late grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung on April 15, the country’s most important holiday.
But he had presided over a meeting on April 11, discussing coronavirus prevention and electing his sister as an alternate member of the political bureau of the ruling Workers’ Party, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said. State media have since reported Kim sent greetings to Syrian President Bashar Assad and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel as well as “birthday spreads” to two North Korean officials and a new centenarian.
So the fact that he missed showing up at the country’s most important holiday – something that a North Korean head of state would never do under normal circumstances – is supposedly ameliorated by his attendance at a meeting four days before (the surgery could have taken place afterwards) and the sending of greetings to rulers of equally despotic, freedomless countries (which could have been done by anyone on his staff)? That’s supposed to be convincing?
It isn’t.
Look, I have no idea what kim jung-un’s health status is. For all I know, he’s training for a marathon. But the fact that he didn’t show up for the most important celebration of the year and the meaninglessness of whether he presided over a meeting beforehand or greeting were sent in his name afterwards, leads straight to suspicion about his health.
If kim jung-un is in reasonably good condition, why has he not been seen in weeks? Why wouldn’t he put in an appearance, if only to assure the people of North Korea that he’s OK?
Please do not take this as a wish on my part. Personally I would have no problem at all if this deranged, murderous lunatic were out of the picture – and he took al-assad and Castro clone Díaz-Canel right along with him.
I’ll let you know when – if – kim jung-un next appears.
Is anything known about the sister? Would she be better, worse or the same???