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Explainer | Kim Jong-un: What is going on with North Korea’s leader?
- Kim is once again beset by rumours of poor health, and that he’s roped in his trusted sister Kim Yo-jong to ease his workload
- While there’s little evidence to claims he is dying, analysts say his younger sister is undoubtedly becoming more influential within the regime
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Rumours over North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s health have swirled this year, and the latest is that he has given his sister, Kim Yo-jong, partial authority over the country to ease his workload.
But long-time observers have raised scepticism over these claims, pointing out no one has a full grasp of the situation in North Korea.
Given that Pyongyang’s stability is a concern for the world because its stockpile of nuclear warheads could grow to 100 by the year’s end, the struggle to read the signals continues.
Was Kim Jong-un really on the verge of death?
Kim’s health has come under intense scrutiny since a former lawmaker in South Korea claimed the dictator was comatose.
“I assess him to be in a coma, but his life has not ended,” said Jang Sung-min on his Facebook page on August 21.
Maria Siow is a long-time China-based correspondent and analyst with keen interest in East Asia. Maria has a masters degree in international relations.
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