North Korean Leader, Kim Jong-un Missing For Three Weeks – Longer Than He’s Ever Been Before

Kim Jong-un has now been missing for the longest period ever — further fuelling speculation over his health or even whether he is still alive.

The North Korean leader, who has been disappearing and reappearing over the past three months, has now not been seen in public for more than three weeks.

Following his first disappearing act, reports emerged claiming the enigmatic 36-year-old despot had died or was gravely ill after a botched heart operation.

After vanishing for 20 days he turned up on May 1 at a newly-constructed fertiliser plant before again disappearing from public.

Then, on May 24, Kim reappeared after another three-week absence to discuss putting his nuclear forces on “high alert” amid growing speculation about his health.

But he then vanished again and has not been seen since.

North Korea’s state-controlled media today called on its people to rally behind the dictator amid lingering tensions on the peninsula.

It came as the dictator was to have today marked the fourth anniversary of his appointment to chairman of the State Affairs Commission, the highest leadership institution there.

But this year, unlike last year, there were no celebrations with Kim nowhere to be seen.

HOW KIM HE KEEPS VANISHING?

Specialist North Korea site NK news carried out analysis of the dictator’s appearances and found he has now been absent for the longest period of time over the past three months.

Last week Japanese defence minister Taro Kono said his country had “some suspicions” about the health of the periodically missing leader.

The country’s defence minister made the bombshell comment at a press briefing and added he thought recent movements in the secretive state were “all very strange”.

Taro said the “very strange movements” in North Korea were because of Kim “trying not to get infected,” as the “virus is spreading around” the country.

North Korea has steadfastly claimed it hasn’t recorded a single virus case, but foreign experts are highly skeptical.

Japan believes the pandemic worsened economic troubles because the hermit state has closed its border with China, its biggest trading partner and economic lifeline.

All this comes amid strain between the North and the South after defectors based there have been flying balloons across the border to drop anti-regime leaflets.

And despite the coronavirus chaos, North Korea is reportedly bent on achieving a “nuclear war deterrent” to match the US.

The hermit state’s new ambassador to Iran was confirmed in a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani last week, with both officials reportedly discussing their “common enemy” in Washington.

Tomorrow marks one year after US President Donald Trump and North Kim last met and promised to avert a nuclear war breaking out in the Korean peninsula and in Japan.

But in recent months North Korea has returned to conducting short-range missile tests and issuing harsh rhetoric, while Washington shows little interest in easing sanctions.

But some suspect the ratcheting up of tension and Pyongyang’s  announcement of majorly expanding its nuclear arsenal last week is a distraction ploy because of the dictator’s faltering health.

Whatever the rumours, something strange is certainly going on in the background with its leader, who is usually photographed out and about inspecting factories, weapons or special events.

Since Kim’s initial disappearance after May 1, state media has carried a steady stream of stories on Kim sending or receiving letters and diplomatic correspondence.

But they have not shown him attending public events
Resurfaced video has also recently shown Kim chin-wagging with what appears to be his body doubles in bizarre footage shot in July 2017.

The dictator was filmed chatting away with the two suspected lookalikes – dressed identically in his signature black pinstripe suit and Cuban heels.
Kim took over as the dictator of North Korea after his father and former leader Kim Jong-il died in late 2011.

The Sun