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North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un could be seriously ill according to reports from CNN.
CNN’s Jim Sciutto is reporting that the US is monitoring intelligence that says Kim is in “grave danger’ after having surgery.
Breaking: The US is monitoring intelligence that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s health is in grave danger following a surgery, a US official with direct knowledge tells me.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 21, 2020
Via CNN
The US is monitoring intelligence that North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, is in grave danger after a surgery, according to a US official with direct knowledge.
Kim recently missed the celebration of his grandfather’s birthday on April 15, which raised speculation about his well-being. He had been seen four days before that at a government meeting.
The National Security Council and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment when reached by CNN on Monday. CNN has also reached out to the CIA and the State Department for comment and sought comment from the South Koreans.
According to the AP, the South Korean government is looking into the reports of Kim’s health.
Via AP
The South Korean government on Tuesday was looking into U.S. media reports saying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was in fragile condition after surgery.
Officials from South Korea’s Unification Ministry and National Intelligence Service said they couldn’t immediately confirm the report. CNN cited an anonymous U.S. official who said Kim was in “grave danger” after an unspecified surgery.
The Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean affairs, said it couldn’t confirm another report by Daily NK, which cited anonymous sources to report that Kim was recovering from heart surgery in the capital Pyongyang and that his condition was improving.
Update: Apparently Kim had heart surgery last week and his “health is poor”.
NEW: Trump admin received information that Kim Jong Un had heart surgery last week and if he's alive, his health is poor, I'm told. KJU hasn't been seen at key events in recent days. It's unclear to US officials if he's dead or alive. (CNN 1st reported his condition's grave.)
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 21, 2020
(LEAD) No unusual signs about N.K. leader's health: government source https://t.co/3uZY9FxvtX
— Yonhap News Agency (@YonhapNews) April 21, 2020
Update #2
South Korea has is reporting that there has been no unusual activity in North Korea and they believe he is not seriously ill.
Reuters: S.KOREA GOV'T SAYS NO UNUSUAL MOVEMENT IN N.KOREA -YONHAP
— Vincent Lee (@Rover829) April 21, 2020
Reuters: SOURCE AT CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY'S INTERNATIONAL LIAISON DEPT SAYS N.KOREAN LEADER KIM IS BELIEVED NOT TO BE CRITICALLY ILL
— Vincent Lee (@Rover829) April 21, 2020