Kim Jong-un's Health Rumors 'Baseless'... Ri Pyong-chol Removed from Standing Committee

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 8th that Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, who had been rumored to have experienced a "personal incident," paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of President Kim Il-sung's death. Additionally, it was confirmed that Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, who was speculated to have been purged, was dismissed from the Standing Committee but was not purged.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that "Comrade Kim Jong-un visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun at midnight on July 8." Except for 2018, Chairman Kim has paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun every year on the anniversary of President Kim Il-sung's death. According to the photos released by the agency, General Secretary Kim appeared noticeably gaunt and haggard, but no other unusual signs were observed.

Some rumors about Kim Jong-un's personal incident spread through social networking services (SNS), and some media outlets reported signs of a coup within North Korea. The National Intelligence Service officially stated that these rumors were "groundless." This report by the Korean Central News Agency confirmed that the rumors about his personal incident were unfounded.

Attendees at the tribute included members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party and members of the Party's central leadership. In the front row, alongside General Secretary Kim, were Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, Jo Yong-won, Secretary of the Organization Department, and Kim Tok-hun, Premier of the Cabinet?three members of the Standing Committee. Vice Chairman Ri, who was a Standing Committee member, was seated in the third row with candidate members of the Political Bureau, wearing civilian clothes instead of a military uniform, confirming his dismissal from the Standing Committee. At the expanded Political Bureau meeting held under Kim's chairmanship at the end of last month, Ri appeared to be reprimanded, raising speculation about his dismissal or purge.

Park Jong-chon, Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, who was presumed to have been reprimanded alongside Vice Chairman Ri, was seated in the second row, where senior military officials and Political Bureau members usually stand, wearing the rank insignia of a Vice Marshal rather than a Marshal. However, his seat was pushed to the far end, suggesting some disciplinary action. Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party, was seated in the fourth row and participated in the tribute. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies analyzed, "By holding Vice Chairman Ri and Chief Park accountable, General Secretary Kim set an example for the cadre society," adding, "The fact that their demotion was limited suggests that there remains room for their possible reinstatement at any time."

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