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| Kim Jong-un misses Workers' Party event amid rumours North Korean leader has been ousted | Kim Jong-un misses Workers' Party event amid rumours North Korean leader has been ousted |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The absence of Kim Jong-un at the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party has further fuelled speculation as to the whereabouts of the North Korean leader. | The absence of Kim Jong-un at the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party has further fuelled speculation as to the whereabouts of the North Korean leader. |
| Kim has not been seen in public for a month, prompting wide-ranging rumours that the overweight leader has finally succumbed to his addiction to Swiss cheese, is suffering from gout, or has even been moved out of the state capital after an attempted coup. | Kim has not been seen in public for a month, prompting wide-ranging rumours that the overweight leader has finally succumbed to his addiction to Swiss cheese, is suffering from gout, or has even been moved out of the state capital after an attempted coup. |
| The 31-year-old apparently did not attend the 69th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's Workers' Party on Friday, a major event in the state calendar. An official state media dispatch listed senior government, military and party officials who paid their respects at the ceremony, but not Kim. | The 31-year-old apparently did not attend the 69th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's Workers' Party on Friday, a major event in the state calendar. An official state media dispatch listed senior government, military and party officials who paid their respects at the ceremony, but not Kim. |
| It said a flower basket with Kim's name on it was placed before statues of his father and grandfather, both of whom also ruled North Korea. State media said earlier that the might of the party "is growing stronger under the seasoned guidance of Marshal Kim Jong-un". | It said a flower basket with Kim's name on it was placed before statues of his father and grandfather, both of whom also ruled North Korea. State media said earlier that the might of the party "is growing stronger under the seasoned guidance of Marshal Kim Jong-un". |
| North Korea is a hereditary dictatorship centred on the ruling Kim family. Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, is known to have an official role within the ruling party. His brother, Kim Jong Chol, and his estranged half-brother are not in the public eye. Analysts had speculated that Kim’s disappearance could suggest an attempted coup, or a power shift within the state. | |
| However, Remco Breuker, Professor of Korean studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, said Kim's absence is not necessarily significant for the regime as a whole. | However, Remco Breuker, Professor of Korean studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, said Kim's absence is not necessarily significant for the regime as a whole. |
| Mr Breuker said he did not believe reports suggesting Kim has been subject to an attempted coup. | Mr Breuker said he did not believe reports suggesting Kim has been subject to an attempted coup. |
| He told The Independent the country’s Organisation and Guidance Department (OGD) is still, for all purposes, in control of the state. | He told The Independent the country’s Organisation and Guidance Department (OGD) is still, for all purposes, in control of the state. |
| "I think there’s a conflation of two different issues here. The first issue is that he may very well be legitimately ill, he may have broken his ankle for example, which would explain his absence. | "I think there’s a conflation of two different issues here. The first issue is that he may very well be legitimately ill, he may have broken his ankle for example, which would explain his absence. |
| “The second issue is him not being in control and perhaps those who are actually in control considering the possibility of him being removed from his position. | “The second issue is him not being in control and perhaps those who are actually in control considering the possibility of him being removed from his position. |
| Kim was absent from the homecoming ceremony in North Korea for the Asian Games “He may very well be legitimately ill, but at the same time, the people who make the decisions could be considering North Korea without Kim Jong-un appearing at its head." | Kim was absent from the homecoming ceremony in North Korea for the Asian Games “He may very well be legitimately ill, but at the same time, the people who make the decisions could be considering North Korea without Kim Jong-un appearing at its head." |
| However, a source from North Korea has been quick to stress that Kim is still in “total control”. | However, a source from North Korea has been quick to stress that Kim is still in “total control”. |
| The source told Reuters on Friday that Kim had injured his ankle and needed time to recover – “about 100 days”, to be precise. | The source told Reuters on Friday that Kim had injured his ankle and needed time to recover – “about 100 days”, to be precise. |