North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has once again taken an extended break from public appearances, this time coinciding with a slew of challenges facing the country such as flooding, economic hardships and a shortage of food.

The absence also comes as the U.S. and South Korea kick off joint military exercises this week, even though Kim has historically used the routine drills as an opportunity to attend North Korea’s own exercises or missile tests. 

State media last showed Kim’s official activities on July 30, a day after he took photos with participants of multiple military-related events running from July 24 to 29. During this time, he was spotted with a mysterious splotch and bandage on the back of his head.

OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT

Monday marks 17 days since Kim’s last appearance. This is the sixth time this year that state media has not shown new images of Kim for two straight weeks or longer, matching the total number of such absences at this time last year. In 2020, Kim had the fewest number of public appearances in a calendar year since taking power in late 2011. 

It’s also the latest into a given year that state media has gone without reporting on a single appearance by the North Korean leader outside of Pyongyang.

In addition, he has given economic projects the least public attention of any year, only making four economic inspections at three sites: a 10,000-home construction project in southeast Pyongyang, another housing project for elite residents in the capital and a bus factory.

However, state media has also suggested nothing is currently amiss by reporting that Kim gave behind-the-scenes flood-related instructions on Aug. 5 and sent a wreath to a Russian war memorial in Pyongyang on Aug. 15.

WHERE’S NORTH KOREA’S LEADER?

Though Kim hasn’t officially left Pyongyang this year, activity detected in satellite imagery at Kim’s mansion compounds on the east coast suggests that he may be enjoying leisure time there, even as he appears to have lost a significant amount of weight in recent months. 

He may have returned to the Wonsan area after his most recent state media appearance in late July, as Planet Labs imagery shows that a white object — possibly one of Kim’s luxury yachts — appeared in the waters off his newest beach house in the area from Aug. 6 to 10. 

The Hodo peninsula beach house appears to have been rarely used since it was built in 2019, but NK Pro has detected greater activity there since early July.

Movements of the North Korean leader’s larger pool boats have recently lined up with his public appearances as well.

An 80-meter (260-foot) “floating amusement park” made a rare appearance at Kim’s Wonsan mansion for the duration of his almost-two-week break in July, and a 60-meter (200-foot) leisure boat appeared at his Wonsan mansion beach between Jul. 28 and 30 at the beginning of his current break. 

The 60-meter boat appeared to be removed from the beach between Aug. 5 and 10 ahead of incoming storms, which seem to have flooded at least parts of the mansion’s marina.

Meanwhile, observers are trying to anticipate the next move from Kim and North Korea in response to routine U.S.-ROK military exercises this month. State media has typically promoted the North Korean leader’s military-related activities in August each year, and he has only opted not to visit with troops or conduct missile tests in the month of August in 2015, 2018 and 2020.

Edited by Arius Derr