The US says it is monitoring claims that North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, is in grave danger after undergoing a previous surgery.
READ ALSO: CNN’s Richard Quest Tests Positive For Coronavirus
According to reports provided by the CNN, Kim recently missed the celebration of his grandfather’s birthday on April 15, which raised questions about his well-being
The reports further claimed that concerns about the Supreme Leader’s health are credible but the severity is hard to assess.
Earlier, a South Korea-based online newspaper, Daily NK, stated that Kim reportedly received a cardiovascular system procedure on April 12.
Kim, it was gathered, received the cardiovascular system procedure because of excessive smoking, obesity, and overwork and is now receiving treatment in a villa in Hyangsan County following his procedure.
A source also revealed that the country’s top leaders are aware of reports about Kim’s health which are related to weight and smoking but they made it clear that they are waiting for more information.
In the meantime, findings have revealed that US officials have been reaching out to North Korean experts particularly those who have studied the Kim regime to talk about contingency planning.
This has, however, been difficult to achieve as North Korea tightly controls any information surrounding its leader, who is said to treated like a deity within the country.
Meanwhile, Kim’s absences from official state media often spark speculation and rumours about his health.
Kim last appeared in North Korean state media on April 11.
The dreaded leader was said to have been absent on April 15, North Korea’s most important holiday which marks the anniversary of the birth of the country’s founding father, Kim Il Sung.
A senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former CIA deputy division chief for North Korea, Bruce Klingner, said:
There have been a number of recent rumors about Kim’s health (smoking, heart, and brain). If Kim is hospitalized, it would explain why he wasn’t present on the important April 15th celebrations.
But, over the years, there have been a number of false health rumors about Kim Jong-un or his father. We’ll have to wait and see.”
