Amid health rumors, Kim Jong Un absent for two consecutive three-week periods

COVID-19

Amid health rumors, Kim Jong Un absent for two consecutive three-week periods

North Korean leader has not appeared in public since May 1

Chad O'Carroll May 22, 2020

Amid health rumors, Kim Jong Un absent for two consecutive three-week periods

Rodong Sinmun

Correction: an earlier version of this article said Kim Jong Un only appeared four times in March and April. It should have read April and May.

Kim Jong Un had as of Friday been absent from North Korean state media for three weeks, analysis by NK News's sister site NK Pro showed, the North Korean leader's second 21-day absence in a row amid ongoing rumors about his health.

About the Author

Chad O'Carroll

Chad O'Carroll is the founder of NK News/NK Pro and related holding company Korea Risk Group. In addition to being the group's CEO, O'Carroll is a frequent writer and commentator about the Koreas, having written about the two nations since 2010. He has visited the DPRK multiple times, worked and lived in Washington, D.C. with a focus on peninsula issues, and lived in the ROK since 2016.

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