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The rumor persisted: North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un (36) is said to be terminally ill. This is what South Korean opposition politician Chang Song Min (56) said a few weeks ago. Even after the photos of the cheerful ruler recently surfaced, the rumors continue. Now, the North Korean news agency is publishing photos of Kim Jong Un.
The footage shows him walking through the ruins of the shattered South Hamgyong province. A few days ago a typhoon hit the coastal region. Wearing a white shirt, baggy beige pants, and a military cap, he assesses the extent of the damage.
Does Kim have a doppelganger?
It is questionable whether this will silence the rumors once and for all. Already in the spring the suspicion was raised that the ruler was seriously ill after photos of him did not appear for a long time. This was followed by images from the North Korean news agency showing him at a housewarming party. But the Internet community was wary of the evidence. Kim Jong Un was rumored to have a doppelganger.
Chinese human rights activist Jennifer Zeng (53), for example, says there are clear differences with the former Kim and the Kim shown in the photos of the North Korean news agency in the spring. She is convinced: teeth, ears and hair are different!
Then there is the mysterious story with his sister. According to the South Korean secret service, Kim is said to have delegated some powers to her sister Kim Yo Jong (32). She will gradually transfer power to her sister “to reduce stress.” Kim has trusted her for years. However, since July, Kim Yo Jong has not appeared in public. Experts wonder where it has gone.
An attempt to boost morale
There is another reason why Kim is back in public. “Kim Jong Un’s frequent visits to the provinces should show how a ‘leader of the people’ reacts to natural disasters,” Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, tells the Associated Press. It is an attempt by the ruler to boost morale. After the economic problems in the country became increasingly overwhelming due to the US sanctions.
According to the state newspaper “Rodong Sinmun”, “dozens of victims” were reported in the coastal city of Kangwon, south of Hamgyong provinces. North Korea struggles with heavy rains, floods, and typhoons every year. This year, however, the monsoon season is particularly long. (hac)
