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What would happen to North Korea if Kim Jong-un died?
- Speculation has been spiralling over Kim’s health in the two weeks since he was last seen in public, after reportedly undergoing surgery
- Here’s a closer look at what could happen if the third generation of the Kim family to lead North Korea died
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Why you can trust SCMP
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has not been seen in public for more than two weeks, missing commemorations for a key political anniversary, and reports he underwent a cardiovascular procedure have spiralled into speculation he could be incapacitated or even dead.
Both Seoul and Washington have played them down, but there has been no concrete proof of life in Pyongyang’s state media, beyond reports of messages sent in his name.
Here is what could happen if Kim, the third generation of his family to lead North Korea, died.
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How would the world learn of his death?
The North is extremely secretive, and doubly so about its leadership. Kim’s father and predecessor Kim Jong-il had been dead for two days before anyone outside the innermost circles of North Korean leadership was any the wiser.
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On past precedent, the first indication will be an announcement of a special broadcast on state television. If the camera cuts to a woman in a black dress, Kim is dead.
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