Kim Jong-un Missing for 12 Days... Government Says "He Has Been Absent for 21 Days This Year" Cautious Approach

Ministry of Unification Maintains "No Unusual Developments Inside North Korea"
"North Korean Media Has Never Responded to External Suspicion"

The Blue House stated on the 21st that "no unusual developments have been identified within North Korea so far" in response to some media reports about North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's 'health abnormality rumors.' Earlier, on the 20th (local time), the US CNN broadcast reported, citing a US official, that the US government is monitoring information that "Chairman Kim is in serious danger after surgery." The photo shows Chairman Kim Jong-un as reported by Korean Central TV on the 12th. It covered the Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting presided over by Chairman Kim Jong-un on the 11th.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, who has been absent from public appearances for the 12th consecutive day amid rumors of health issues, has prompted the Ministry of Unification to reiterate a cautious stance on the 24th, stating that "there have been cases this year where Kim's whereabouts were unreported for up to 21 days."

Cho Hye-sil, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the same day, "North Korean media have never responded to the suspicions raised externally."

Deputy Spokesperson Cho stated that the government maintains its existing position that there are no unusual developments inside North Korea. He said, "At the National Security Council (NSC) meeting on the 23rd, recent North Korean trends were reviewed, and it was confirmed that there were no unusual developments," adding, "The Ministry of Unification also states that this position remains valid."

Tae Gumin (Tae Young-ho), a member of the United Future Party and a defector from North Korea, stated on the 23rd regarding the possibility of a leadership system under Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, following rumors about North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's health issues, "The forces supporting the current system are all in their 60s and 70s, and from their perspective, Kim Yo-jong is a complete novice."

Tae also emphasized the need to pay attention to Kim Pyong-il, Kim Jong-un's uncle and former North Korean ambassador to the Czech Republic. He said, "One option we must not overlook is the existence of Kim Pyong-il."

Kim Pyong-il, the half-brother of Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un's late father and former National Defense Commission Chairman, was confirmed by the National Intelligence Service to have entered North Korea at the end of November last year. The photo shows former North Korean ambassador to the Czech Republic Kim Pyong-il. Photo by Kim Pyong-il.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Unification announced plans to promote inter-Korean exchanges and joint commemorative events in cooperation with civilian organizations to mark the 20th anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration this year.

On the same day, the Ministry established and announced the "2020 Inter-Korean Relations Development Implementation Plan," which includes resuming cooperation projects in social and cultural fields such as joint inter-Korean events and sports exchanges to revitalize inter-Korean exchange and cooperation.

The railway connection project for the Donghae Bukbu Line section between Gangneung and Jejin, recognized as an inter-Korean exchange cooperation project on the 23rd, was also introduced as a key policy for the New Economic Map of the Korean Peninsula initiative.

As part of creating institutional conditions for individual tourism to North Korea, consultations will be held to establish a "Tourism Cooperation Management Organization between North and South Korea." The individual tourism methods, as previously known, mainly include two options: "visits to Mount Kumgang and Kaesong by separated families" and "general public tours to North Korean tourist sites through third-country travel agencies."

Additionally, to mark the 20th anniversary of separated families' reunions, face-to-face reunions of separated families will be promoted, and efforts will be made to diversify and regularize exchanges of separated families through North-South Red Cross talks and other channels.

Health cooperation between North and South Korea, which has become a pressing issue due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, is also a major task.

Cooperation will be sought initially in urgent infectious disease areas such as malaria and tuberculosis, and in the mid to long term, preparations will be made for education and training by generation and occupation groups, as well as technical cooperation.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "We will closely collaborate with related ministries to carry out the projects presented in the implementation plan," and added, "We will make further efforts to steadily develop inter-Korean relations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.