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North Korean TV admits dictator ill, but fails to confirm gout rumours North Korea admits to Kim Jong-un’s ill-health for first time
(about 4 hours later)
That Kim Jong-un is carrying a few extra pounds has been blindingly obvious since he became North Korea’s leader in late 2011. But speculation that his increasing weight – apparently the result of a weakness for cheese – has brought on debilitating spells of gout rose dramatically this week after he failed to attend an important parliamentary session. That Kim Jong-un is carrying a few extra pounds has been obvious since he became North Korea’s leader in late 2011. But speculation that his increasing weight – apparently partly due to a weakness for cheese – has brought on debilitating spells of gout rose dramatically this week, after he failed to attend an important parliamentary session.
Rumours that Kim, a reputed heavy smoker, is in less that robust health surfaced this year when state TV footage showed him with a pronounced limp and looking noticeably bulkier than he did during his first few months as leader. Rumours that Kim, reputedly a heavy smoker, is in less than robust health surfaced earlier this year when state TV footage showed him with a pronounced limp and looking noticeably bulkier than he did during his first few months as leader.
On Friday, North Korean authorities, in a rare display of openness about their leader’s health, admitted Kim was suffering from an “uncomfortable physical condition”, but did not mention rumours that the 31-year-old had gout. On Friday, North Korean authorities, in a rare display of openness about their leader’s health, admitted for the first time that Kim was suffering from an “uncomfortable physical condition”, although they did not confirm rumours that the 31-year-old, Swiss-educated leader was suffering from gout.
State media issued the brief comment after Kim failed to appear at a session of the supreme people’s assembly – North Korea’s national legislature, where leaders would normally be expected to make an appearance. On Thursday the assembly approved the promotion of Hwang Pyong-so, the most senior political officer of the Korean People’s Army, to vice chairman of the powerful National Defence Commission. State media issued the brief comment on Kim’s physical condition after he failed to appear at a session of the supreme people’s assembly – North Korea’s national legislature, where leaders would normally be expected to make an appearance.
In a one-hour documentary aired on Thursday that showed a limping Kim visiting a factory near Pyongyang, the narrator said: “The wealth and prosperity of our socialism is thanks to the painstaking efforts of our marshal, who keeps lighting the path for the people, like the flicker of a flame, despite suffering discomfort.”In a one-hour documentary aired on Thursday that showed a limping Kim visiting a factory near Pyongyang, the narrator said: “The wealth and prosperity of our socialism is thanks to the painstaking efforts of our marshal, who keeps lighting the path for the people, like the flicker of a flame, despite suffering discomfort.”
Kim’s three-week public absence comes months after he was shown limping, and wearing loose clothes, during inspections of military units and factories.Kim’s three-week public absence comes months after he was shown limping, and wearing loose clothes, during inspections of military units and factories.
His last appearance came on 3 September, when Kim, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju, was shown sitting in the front-row seats at a concert by the North Korean girl group the Moranbong Band. His last appearance was on 3 September, when Kim, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju, was shown sitting in the front-row seats at a concert by the North Korean girl group the Moranbong Band.
Despite his love of baseball and basketball – evident in his friendship with the former NBA star Dennis Rodman – Kim is not known for his sporting prowess beyond occasional outings on horseback. South Korea’s Joongang Ilbo newspaper charitably speculated that his limp had been caused by a sports injury, but the country’s Yonhap news agency suggested that Kim’s health problems were more serious. Despite his love of baseball and basketball – evident in his friendship with the former NBA star Dennis Rodman – Kim is not known for his sporting prowess beyond occasional outings on horseback. South Korea’s Joongang Ilbo newspaper charitably speculated that his limp had been caused by a sports injury, but Yonhap suggested that the portly dictator’s health problems were more serious.
Yonhap quoted a source said to be familiar with North Korean affairs as saying that Kim had gout, diabetes and high blood pressure. Kim Il-sung, Kim’s grandfather and North Korea’s founder, and his father Kim Jong-il both had gout, as does his elder brother, Kim Jong-nam. The South Korean news agency quoted a source said to be familiar with North Korean affairs as saying that Kim was suffering from gout, diabetes and high blood pressure. Kim Il-sung, Kim’s grandfather and North Korea’s founder, and his father Kim Jong-il both suffered from gout, as does his elder brother, Kim Jong-nam.
Yonhap’s source said a North Korean medical team had visited Germany and Switzerland, where Kim is thought to have been educated, to consult colleagues about Kim’s health issues. Yonhap’s source said that a North Korean medical team had visited Germany and Switzerland, where Kim is thought to have been educated, to consult colleagues about his health issues.
South Korea’s unification ministry said on Friday that it was monitoring Kim “with various possibilities in mind, including the rumours about health problems”.South Korea’s unification ministry said on Friday that it was monitoring Kim “with various possibilities in mind, including the rumours about health problems”.
Speculation is mounting that the portly dictator, who may have been trying to gain weigh to resemble his revered grandfather, was paying the price for his penchant for alcohol and rich food. Speculation is mounting that Kim, who may have been trying to gain weight to resemble his revered grandfather, was paying the price for his penchant for alcohol and rich food.
Daniel Pinkston, deputy project director for the North East Asia programme at the International Crisis Group, said: “I’m not a physician, and even if I were, I probably would not be his. That said, his lifestyle – the weight gain, smoking, and extreme stress do not help.” “I’m not a physician, and even if I were, I probably would not be his. That said, his lifestyle – the weight gain, smoking, and extreme stress do not help,” said Daniel Pinkston, deputy project director for the North East Asian programme at the International Crisis Group.
Pinkston said he believed Kim’s most loyal supporters were likely to be sympathetic and wish him a speedy recovery. However, if his condition proves serious, it could trigger instability – the threat of which could affect his treatment, especially if it involved surgery, he added. Pinkston said he believed Kim’s most loyal supporters were likely to be “sympathetic” and wish him a speedy recovery. However, if his condition proves serious, it could trigger instability – the threat of which could affect his treatment, especially if it involved surgery, he added.
“Dictators are very suspicious of potential challengers, and of course, they are vulnerable when sedated,” said Pinkston. “Notice that his grandfather never got his tumour removed from his neck.” “Dictators are very suspicious of potential challengers, and of course, they are vulnerable when sedated,” said Pinkston. “Notice that his grandfather never got his tumour removed from his neck”.
It is not the first time Kim Jong-un has disappeared from public view. He was absent from TV broadcasts for 21 days in March 2012 and for a slightly longer period in June that year. Early last year he was out of the public eye for 18 days. It is not the first time that Kim Jong-un has disappeared from public view. He was absent from TV broadcasts for 21 days in March 2012 and for a slightly longer period in June that year. Early last year he was out of the public eye for 18 days.
Some analysts were sceptical about rumours surrounding Kim’s health. “Kim Jong-un’s failure to attend [the supreme people’s assembly] meeting does not necessarily indicate he has a health problem,” said Michael Madden, an expert on the North Korean leadership and contributor to the 38 North website. Some analysts were sceptical about rumours surrounding Kim’s health. “Kim Jong-un’s failure to attend yesterday’s [supreme people’s assembly] meeting does not necessarily indicate he has a health problem,” said Michael Madden, an expert on the North Korean leadership and contributor to the 38 North website.
“His father often skipped these legislative meetings. On the other hand, Kim Jong-un has not made any observed public appearances since 3 September, which is somewhat unusual for him. Also, unlike his father, there were no reports in state media that he participated in any on-site inspections or visits, which we used to see with Kim Jong-il even when the old man’s health was precarious.”“His father often skipped these legislative meetings. On the other hand, Kim Jong-un has not made any observed public appearances since 3 September, which is somewhat unusual for him. Also, unlike his father, there were no reports in state media that he participated in any on-site inspections or visits, which we used to see with Kim Jong-il even when the old man’s health was precarious.”
Even a dramatic deterioration in Kim’s health would not necessarily pose a threat to his authority, Madden said.
“Due to his father’s precarious health, particularly the pair of strokes he had in 2008 and his long-term cardiac problems, the political system has a framework and mechanism that would allow Kim Jong-un to remain in power, receive briefings and issue orders while he recovers from medical treatment or is in hospital. In North Korea this is called ‘issuing instructions from bed,’ and applied to Kim Jong-il on several occasions from 2009 to 2011.”
But Adam Cathcart, a lecturer in Chinese history at Leeds University, said Kim’s apparent ailments could prove a challenge for North Korea’s propagandists.
“It’s normal for North Korean media to emphasise the physical demands of the job of supreme leader – this typically means emphasising how the Kims have had to stay up all night, or drive all night to arrive at an on-site inspection, and Kim Jong-il’s last months are now retrospectively discussed the same way,” Cathcart said.
“Obviously there’s a deep clash appearing between the notion of a young and vigorous ’new’ leader opening a new era for [North Korea] and Kim Jong-un’s own physical limits, which are already reminiscent of the old leaders he has been imitating in nearly every other respect.”