"'Kim Jong-un Death 99%' Jiseongho Apologizes: 'I Will Act Cautiously'"

Published 04 May.2020 15:34(KST)

"I offer my deepest apologies to the people"

Jiseongho, Elected Member of Mirae Korea Party [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Ji Seong-ho, a member-elect of the Future Korea Party who had publicly claimed the death of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, apologized for his remarks on the 4th.

In a statement released that afternoon, Ji said, "I have been reflecting deeply on myself over the past few days. I have deeply felt the weight of my position," and emphasized, "I will act cautiously as a public official from now on."

He bowed his head again and said, "I will become a worker who serves only the people, as the public expects of me. I sincerely apologize once again."

On the 1st, Ji caused a stir by saying in a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency, "I wondered how long Chairman Kim could survive after cardiovascular surgery, but it was confirmed that he died last weekend," adding, "I would say 99%, not 100%," and "I understand the succession issue is complicated."

Regarding the timing of the announcement of Chairman Kim's death, Ji said, "Looking at past announcements of the deaths of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, I think North Korea will announce Kim Jong-un's death around this weekend," and claimed, "If the announcement is delayed too long, it should be seen as internal strife related to the succession issue."

On the possibility of Kim Yo-jong, Chairman Kim's younger sister and the first deputy director of the Workers' Party, becoming the successor, he said, "I think it will be at the level of traffic control with Deputy Director Kim," and predicted, "In the case of Kim Pyong-il, Kim Jong-il's half-brother and former ambassador to the Czech Republic, he has been away from North Korea for a long time, and in the meantime, Kim Jong-un has purged many people, so it will not be easy for him to become the successor."