Kim Jong Un Misses Major Political Anniversary in North Korea; Speculations Mount
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has not been seen in public in well over a month, missed a major national ceremony paying tribute to his late father and grandfather, fueling speculations on Friday over his whereabouts.
The KCNA state agency published several articles about the 69th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, but Kim was not listed among the attendees. Hwang Pyong So, North Korea's second most important leader, attended a flower presentation in Kim's name at the shrine at Kamsusuan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, but Kim himself was missing.
The last time the 31-year-old leader was seen in public was at a music concert along his wife, Ri Sol Ju, on Sept. 3. Since then, he has missed a number of events that he was expected to attend, including the convening of the parliament for its second session of the year in late September, and a welcoming of athletes from the Asian Games earlier this week.
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Rumors about his disappearance have been various, ranging from health problems to a possible coup.
A source reportedly told Sky News that Kim has been missing because of a pulled tendon sustained during a military drill. Reports have said that Kim has been seen limping on a number of occasions in recent months.
"He ordered all the generals to take part in drills and he took part too. They were crawling and running and rolling around, and he pulled a tendon," the source said on condition of anonymity. "He injured his ankle and knee around late August or early September while drilling because he is overweight."
North Korean officials have denied any problems with Kim's health, however.
Kim Yang Gon, the head of a ruling party department in charge of South Korea-related affairs, said that "there is nothing wrong with the health of Secretary Kim" when asked about the leaders whereabouts in light of the welcoming ceremony.
South Korea's unification ministry's spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol acknowledged Kim's disappearance during a press briefing, but said there is no reason to believe something big has happened.
"It seems that Kim Jong-un's rule is in normal operation," Lim said.
"With regard to his specific health conditions, our government has no information to confirm yet," he added.
Yonhap News pointed out that in the previous years, Kim had attended the national ceremony, along with other top party and military officials.
BBC News' Steve Evans reported from Seoul that the no-show from Kim "increases the feeling that something untoward has happened."
"Close watchers of North Korea discount the idea of a palace coup against him by pointing out that there haven't been unusual movements of the military, and that the supreme leader continues to be praised by the state media," he offered.
"On Saturday, North Korean organs credited him with helping the country's athletes do well at the Asian games. He was also said to be the driving force behind the visit by his inner circle to Seoul. He is probably on his sick bed but with undiminished power."
