Anna Fifield: North Korea rumours

North Korea’s enigmatic leader Kim Jong Un has the international press in a flurry, after reports of his possible demise were picked by major news outlets.

Anna Fifield, the Washington Post’s China correspondent, is currently in lockdown in New Zealand. She spoke to the Asia Media Centre about the rumours, and the secrecy surrounding Kim Jong Un.

Inklings of something out of the ordinary followed the leader’s no-show at commemorations of his grandfather’s death on April 15.

The Daily NK, an online publication based in South Korea that focuses on the north, reported earlier this week Kim had received a cardiovascular system “procedure” on April 12, and was being treated in a villa in Hyangsan County, 150 kilometres north of the capital, Pyongyang.

Anna, have you heard any more details about the story?

This seems to be a very thinly-sourced rumour, just based on one source, and it’s a common occurrence with North Korea – speculation takes hold - but we have no reason at this stage to believe Kim Jong Un is dead, or even if he is seriously ill. The reason it's gaining traction is because it seems like it very easily could be true.

Does he have a history of health issues?

Yes he does, and both his father and grandfather had major issues as well. Both appear to have died of heart attacks. He is regarded as obese, with a body mass index of about 45 - and he smokes large numbers of cigarettes – the “727” Brand, reserved for the North Korean elite. He possibly has gout, he’s a diabetes risk, has cardiovascular issues. Clearly not in good shape for a 36 year-old.

Few people outside of Kim's inner circle know for sure exactly what is happening. His routine, his movements and his health are some of North Korea's most closely guarded secrets.

He’s revered across the country, and supported in part by folk legends and stories detailing the exploits of his ancestors. He’s worshipped almost as deity, and much of the state apparatus is concerned with his safety and security – remember the images of Kim's bodyguards running alongside his limousine during his meetings with other world leaders in 2018. 

So is there a “Plan B”  if and when Kim cannot rule North Korea?

Not that we know of. I mean, there is no clear successor to him, his children are very young, under six years old, and the only family member with any kind of role in the regime is his sister Kim Yo Jong, and she really has been working just as an aid to him. But also she’s a woman, and in Confucian Korea it's really hard to see a woman taking charge at this point.

Could there be a major power struggle inside the country if Kim Jong Un was gone?

There could be. I could see a situation where there was some kind of power struggle between the military and the ruling party, but China has a very strong desire to keep North Korea intact and under control on its border.

Would you expect some kind of statement to emerge from North Korea about all of this speculation in the west?

No, the leader is the third rail, and they are very careful about what they say about him. If we look at what happened in 2014, he disappeared from view for some weeks, and that sparked a lot of chatter. And then he just returned, walking with a cane, with no real explanation. So , I expect we will see him back, and nothing will be said about all of this.

Anna Fifield is the Beijing bureau chief for The Washington Post, and was previous the Tokyo bureau chief focusing on Japan and the Koreas.  Her book about Kim Jong Un “The Great Successor: The Secret Rise & Rule of Kim Jong Un”, was published last year.

- Asia Media Centre