Will Internal Conflicts Worsen Despite Kim Jong-un's Stability? Taegumin and Ji Seong-ho Repeatedly Raise 'Health Concerns'...

Taegumin "Was Kim Jong-un's health really fine?"
Jiseongho "Let's not jump to conclusions and watch closely"
Democratic Party "Should apologize to the public and show an attitude of reflection"

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, who had been surrounded by rumors of death, resumed public activities after 20 days, demonstrating his vitality. On the 2nd, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Chairman Kim attended the completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Factory on May Day (May 1). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un displayed his well-being on the 2nd, intensifying public criticism against opposition figures who claimed 'abnormalities in his personal condition' and 'death rumors.' On the 3rd, the ruling party urged Tae Gumin, a Future United Party member-elect, and Ji Seong-ho, a Future Korea Party member-elect, who raised the 'health abnormality' claims about Chairman Kim, to apologize and reflect.

However, the two members-elect still harbor doubts about Chairman Kim's health status. As a result, concerns are emerging that internal conflicts within the South may be escalating.

Kang Hoon-sik, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized in a written briefing on the 2nd, "Despite the government's official denial of the 'Kim Jong-un death rumor,' spreading fake news by exploiting their status as defectors was highly inappropriate."

Chief Spokesperson Kang demanded, "Sincerely apologize for responding to the South Korean people who warmly embraced you with false information and deceptive propaganda and agitation." He added, "If the two members-elect are to serve as lawmakers, they must adopt a responsible attitude."

Jeong Chun-sook, the party floor spokesperson, also stated in a verbal comment on the 3rd, "They should apologize to the public and show an attitude of reflection for making baseless claims."

In particular, Jeong criticized the two members-elect for responding with "Could it be that there was nothing wrong with his health?" and "Let's wait and see rather than jump to conclusions," even after North Korean media reported Chairman Kim's well-being, saying, "Even though the facts have been confirmed, they try to fit them back into their claims," and "They do not understand how serious a public figure's words are."

Taegumin, elected member of the Future United Party (left), and Jiseongho, elected member of the Future Korea Party (right). Photo by Yonhap News

Ruling party lawmakers also immediately voiced criticism. Park Beom-gye, a Democratic Party lawmaker, wrote on his Facebook on the 2nd, "The two members-elect will soon become representatives of the people. They will have access to all national and public institution information. How far will this be allowed? How much can they be trusted?" He criticized, "What is the basis for the statements the two members-elect made about Chairman Kim? If it was HUMINT information used by so-called intelligence agencies, do they have the authority to access it and the qualification to speak? Or was it merely incitement based on simple speculation?"

Jeong Cheong-rae, a Democratic Party member-elect, also criticized the two members-elect on his Facebook the same day. He urged, "(The two members-elect) should apologize to the public. I hope they sincerely apologize for inciting anxiety and confusion among the people."

He added, "Can our country's charg? d'affaires in the UK know Blue House secrets? Can they grasp overseas intelligence of the National Intelligence Service?" He pointed out, "Defector Tae Yong-ho is such a minor figure. It is nearly impossible that Tae Yong-ho, who defected years ago, knows North Korea's top secrets, which are even more strictly guarded than Kim Jong-un's security."

Regarding member-elect Ji, he said, "His confirmation bias brain speculation, which was said to be 99%, was 100% wrong," and "His information access is likely even worse than defector Tae Yong-ho's, so it seems not even worth commenting on. What's the point of talking?"

'First-term' Tae Gumin, elected representative, greeting Future United Party's Tae Gumin, elected representative (Gangnam-gu Gap, Seoul), is speaking at the elected members' general meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of April 28.
[Yonhap News file photo]

Earlier, despite repeated explanations from the government and the Blue House that there were 'no unusual developments,' Tae Yong-ho, a Future United Party member-elect and former charg? d'affaires at the North Korean embassy in the UK, and Ji Seong-ho, a defector and Future Korea Party member-elect, continued to claim abnormalities in Chairman Kim's health.

On the 28th of last month, Tae emphasized in an interview with CNN, "One thing is clear: Chairman Kim is in a state where he cannot stand or walk properly on his own." However, he failed to provide concrete evidence for his claim.

Also, on the afternoon of the 27th of last month, Tae posted on his Facebook, "Speculations about Kim Jong-un's personal condition are rampant. No one can confirm the situation," and claimed, "The North Korean situation is not one of 'no unusual developments,' but rather has many extremely unusual points."

Eventually, on the 1st, member-elect Ji claimed, "I am 99% certain of Chairman Kim's death." Regarding the time of death, he mentioned 'last weekend' and predicted an official announcement from North Korea this weekend.

However, on the 2nd, Chairman Kim, who had been surrounded by death rumors, resumed public activities after 20 days, demonstrating his well-being, effectively turning their claims into 'fake news.'

Nevertheless, the two members-elect raised the health abnormality claims again. Tae issued a statement in the afternoon, saying, "As a result, my analysis seems somewhat off." However, he also raised another question: "But was there really nothing wrong with Kim Jong-un's health over the past 20 days?"

Tae argued, "My curiosity stems from the vehicle that appeared behind Kim Jong-un in the photos publicly released by North Korea today," and "When I saw the vehicle that his father Kim Jong-il used during local guidance, which reappeared after Kim Jong-il suffered a stroke in 2008 and had difficulty walking even short distances, my doubts were not completely erased."

Member-elect Ji also told Yonhap News in a phone interview that regarding Chairman Kim's appearance in public and demonstration of well-being, "Let's not jump to conclusions about whether Kim Jong-un has health problems and observe further." He added, "When I said I was 99% certain of Kim Jong-un's death, it was based on what I had understood."

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