Recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been reported missing, ill or dead. What happened?
North Korea on Saturday celebrated the 88th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces known as the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, but the head of state was absent from the ceremony.
The absence of Kim Jong-un, who is thought to be 36 years old, has sparked speculation about his health, with theories claiming he is ill due to a cardiovascular operation, while other rumors say he has died.
Reuters reported that a team, including medical experts, left Beijing to help and advise Kim.
North Korean, Chinese and US officials have said Kim was seriously ill after undergoing heart surgery, while President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the reports were inaccurate.
The media say he may have distanced himself from getting infected with coronavirus.
However, despite the fact that no credible source has stated that Kim is dead, the hashtag #KimJongunDead (Kim Jong-un is dead) is circulating on social media.
In terms of health, the North Korean leader is thought to be an active smoker and has been overweight since coming to power in 2011. Data on him is scarce, but there is a history of problems in North Korea's ruling family. cardiovascular. Kim Jong-un's father and grandfather reportedly died of heart attacks.
One of the most common questions at this time is: Who will replace it? So far, Kim Jong's most trusted man has gotten the attention, and most likely, the man who can replace him: His sister.
Kim Yo-jong is a mysterious figure, with details unknown to her life. It is thought to be in the early thirties.
She studied in Switzerland and took ballet lessons before returning to North Korea in the early 2000s.
Kim Yo-jong is known by the nickname "Ivanka Trump of North Korea". She was appointed an alternative member of North Korea's policy earlier this month.
"She's smart, strategist, and who knows how much power she's been able to build by working in the shadows," North Korean expert Bruce Bennett told the Daily Beast.
An analyst told the Associated Press that "among North Korea's ruling elite, Kim Yo-jong has the highest chances of inheriting power." However the patriarchal structure can reduce its chances of ascending to power and Kim Yo-jong can only serve as a temporary character. Replacement depends on Kim Jong Un's death or inability to run the country.
Source: Forbes
