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In North Korean Media, No Sign of Kim Jong-un at Key Ritual In North Korean Media, No Sign of Kim Jong-un at Key Ritual
(about 3 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Early signs indicate that Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader who has been absent from public view for more than a month, has skipped an important annual ritual, which is likely to fuel further speculation about his whereabouts and even about his grip on power. SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader who has been absent from public view for more than a month, skipped an important annual ritual on Friday, a development likely to fuel further speculation about his whereabouts and even about his grip on power.
Friday was the 69th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. Since taking over the top leadership position following the death of his father, the longtime ruler Kim Jong-il, in late 2011, Mr. Kim had marked the beginning of this important national holiday by leading top military and party officials to pay a midnight visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum in Pyongyang. Friday was the 69th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. Since taking over the top leadership position following the death of his father, the longtime ruler Kim Jong-il, in late 2011, Mr. Kim had marked the beginning of this important national holiday by leading top military and party officials to pay a midnight visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum in Pyongyang. By tradition, such a visit would have taken place at midnight Thursday.
By Friday morning, the state-run media had made no mention of such a visit, which would have taken place at midnight Thursday. But on Friday, the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency did not list Mr. Kim among the top officials who had paid tribute at the gigantic Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the mummified bodies of Mr. Kim’s father and his grandfather, the founding president of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, lie in state. The mausoleum is among the most sacred places in the country, which is ruled with a personality cult surrounding the Kim family, and a visit there during a national holiday is an important leadership ritual.
The gigantic Kumsusan Palace of the Sun — where the mummified bodies of Mr. Kim’s father and his grandfather, the founding president of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, lie in state — is among the most sacred places in the country, which is ruled with a personality cult surrounding the Kim family. During the party anniversary last year, Mr. Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, also attended the performance of a national choir and the dedication ceremonies of new buildings. As of Friday evening, there was no report from the North of Mr. Kim’s having done the same this year.
During the party anniversary last year, Mr. Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, also attended the performance of a national choir and the dedication ceremonies of new buildings. If he did the same this year, the news would probably be reported in North Korean media later Friday. But the North Korean news agency indicated that Mr. Kim remained in control, saying that a basket of flowers sent by him had been placed before the statues of his father and his grandfather, who had ruled before him.
No public appearance by Mr. Kim has been shown in North Korean media since Sept. 3, when he was reported to have attended a music concert. His father often disappeared from the public eye for weeks at a time. But this was the longest disappearance for Mr. Kim, who appeared to be building his youthful leadership with frequent visits to factories and farms.
Speculation escalated after the state-run Korean Central Television confirmed for the first time that Mr. Kim was “not feeling well” and showed him limping during a visit to a factory in August. Mr. Kim was first seen limping on North Korean television in July.
While he was absent from public view, Mr. Kim continued his work, sending letters to young party cadets and workers, according to the North Korean media, which is, as usual, filled with hagiographical propaganda for Mr. Kim.
On Friday, the North’s main party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, carried a full front-page editorial calling for the “monolithic leadership” of Mr. Kim as “the only center” of power. The paper carried a large photo of Mr. Kim’s father and grandfather standing together on the front page, but no image of the current leader.On Friday, the North’s main party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, carried a full front-page editorial calling for the “monolithic leadership” of Mr. Kim as “the only center” of power. The paper carried a large photo of Mr. Kim’s father and grandfather standing together on the front page, but no image of the current leader.
South Korean officials and analysts have said that the young and obese North Korean leader may be suffering from health problems, such as gout. His forebears were also overweight and were said to have ailments attributed to their luxurious lifestyles, such as diabetes. One Seoul-based website run by defectors from North Korea who said they have secret informers within the country has recently reported that much of Mr. Kim’s daily duties had been taken over by his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, while Mr. Kim was going through extensive treatment for health issues caused by his “excessive eating and drinking.” In Seoul, Lim Byeong-cheol, a government spokesman, said South Korea believed that Mr. Kim’s rule was “functioning normally.” He added that a delegation of top North Korean officials that visited the South on Saturday had relayed Mr. Kim’s greetings to President Park Geun-hye.
Speculation about Mr. Kim’s status has been growing in recent weeks, with the North Korean media having reported no public appearance by him since Sept. 3, when he was said to have attended a music concert. His father often disappeared from the public eye for weeks at a time. But this was the longest disappearance for Mr. Kim, who had appeared to be bolstering his youthful leadership with frequent visits to factories and farms.
Speculation further escalated after the state-run Korean Central Television confirmed late last month that Mr. Kim was “not feeling well” and showed him limping during a visit to a factory in August. Mr. Kim was first seen limping on North Korean television in July.
While he was absent from public view, Mr. Kim continued his work, sending letters to young party cadets and workers, according to the North Korean media, which is, as usual, filled with hagiographical propaganda for Mr. Kim.
South Korean officials and analysts have said that the young and obese North Korean leader may be suffering from health problems, such as gout or sciatica. His forebears were also overweight and were said to have ailments attributed to their luxurious lifestyles, such as diabetes. One Seoul-based website run by defectors from North Korea who said they had secret informers within the country has recently reported that much of Mr. Kim’s daily duties had been taken over by his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, while Mr. Kim was going through extensive treatment, with the help of foreign doctors, for health issues caused by his “excessive eating and drinking.”
It is widely believed among outside analysts that Mr. Kim deliberately gained weight to resemble his late grandfather, a godlike figure among North Koreans. Mr. Kim, already rotund by the time he took power, has recently gained more weight, according to recent television footage from the North.It is widely believed among outside analysts that Mr. Kim deliberately gained weight to resemble his late grandfather, a godlike figure among North Koreans. Mr. Kim, already rotund by the time he took power, has recently gained more weight, according to recent television footage from the North.
But on the Internet, bloggers went further, spreading rumors, with no corroborating evidence, that Mr. Kim, who is widely believed to be about 30 although his government has never revealed his age, might have been sidelined by a coup engineered by some of the old disgruntled generals.But on the Internet, bloggers went further, spreading rumors, with no corroborating evidence, that Mr. Kim, who is widely believed to be about 30 although his government has never revealed his age, might have been sidelined by a coup engineered by some of the old disgruntled generals.
Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University in Seoul, dismissed those rumors and said he believed that Mr. Kim’s trouble was “not political but orthopedic.” He said that the North Korean leader had reasons to want to show up on Friday, such as a need to dispel the rumors and show that he was in control.Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University in Seoul, dismissed those rumors and said he believed that Mr. Kim’s trouble was “not political but orthopedic.” He said that the North Korean leader had reasons to want to show up on Friday, such as a need to dispel the rumors and show that he was in control.
“But there is also a chance that he won’t really bother to show up,” Professor Kim said. After all, this year was the 69th anniversary of the party, not the 70th, for which North Korea was expected to mark with far bigger ceremonies than usual, including a military parade, as it did during the 60th and 65th anniversaries, he said.“But there is also a chance that he won’t really bother to show up,” Professor Kim said. After all, this year was the 69th anniversary of the party, not the 70th, for which North Korea was expected to mark with far bigger ceremonies than usual, including a military parade, as it did during the 60th and 65th anniversaries, he said.
Analysts cautioned that even if the leader did not make a midnight visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum this year, it should not be seen as too unusual. Mr. Kim’s father, during his rule, often skipped a visit to the mausoleum during the party anniversary.Analysts cautioned that even if the leader did not make a midnight visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum this year, it should not be seen as too unusual. Mr. Kim’s father, during his rule, often skipped a visit to the mausoleum during the party anniversary.
But the longer Mr. Kim’s absence, the more elaborate and wild the rumors may become.But the longer Mr. Kim’s absence, the more elaborate and wild the rumors may become.
Cheong Seong-chang, an analyst at the research organization Sejong Institute in South Korea, saw no immediate challenge to the rule of Mr. Kim, who had engineered purges and reshuffles in the top military and party ranks to fill them with people loyal to him.Cheong Seong-chang, an analyst at the research organization Sejong Institute in South Korea, saw no immediate challenge to the rule of Mr. Kim, who had engineered purges and reshuffles in the top military and party ranks to fill them with people loyal to him.
But an extended absence from public view, Mr. Cheong said, could spell trouble for Mr. Kim because some of the elite may see that as a sign his influence is weakening. In the North, leading visits of military units, farms and factories to give “on-site guidance” has been an important and highly visible tool for the top leader to establish his authority. But an extended absence from public view, Mr. Cheong said, could spell trouble for Mr. Kim because some of the elite may see that as a sign his influence is weakening. In the North, leading visits of military units, farms and factories to give “on-site guidance” has been an important and highly visible way for the top leader to establish his authority.
“Kim Jong-un’s health problem can spawn unease inside the North Korean leadership and prompt them to respond more sensitively to the outside world,” Mr. Cheong said. “If that happens, they may shift to more bellicose stances, for instance, launching a long-range rocket or conducting its fourth nuclear test, in order to consolidate its internal solidarity.”“Kim Jong-un’s health problem can spawn unease inside the North Korean leadership and prompt them to respond more sensitively to the outside world,” Mr. Cheong said. “If that happens, they may shift to more bellicose stances, for instance, launching a long-range rocket or conducting its fourth nuclear test, in order to consolidate its internal solidarity.”