Is North Korean leader Kim Jong-un staying out of sight to avoid coronavirus?

South Korea’s unification minister believes Kim may have missed a key holiday because of Covid-19 concerns, and may not be ill, as speculated

But this would contradict North Korea’s claims that it has no coronavirus infections

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North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un may not be ill but just staying out of the public eye to avoid the coronavirus outbreak, a South Korean minister believes. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:15pm, 28 Apr 2020Updated: 10:25pm, 28 Apr 2020

Kim Jong-un may have missed a key holiday on April 15 because of concerns over the coronavirus, not because he is ill, South Korea’s minister for North Korean affairs said on Tuesday.

The North Korean leader’s absence from public ceremonies on the birth anniversary of his grandfather and founder of the country, Kim Il-sung, was unprecedented, and he has not been seen in public since. That has led to days of speculation over his health.

South Korean officials emphasise they know Kim’s location, have detected no unusual movements in North Korea, and have cautioned against reports that Kim may be ill.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a ceremony in 2016. Photo: AFP

North Korea has said it has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but given the fact that the country has taken stringent steps to head off an outbreak, Kim’s absence from the ceremonies is not particularly unusual, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, who oversees North Korea engagement, told lawmakers.

“It is true that he had never missed the anniversary for Kim Il-sung’s birthday since he took power, but many anniversary events including celebrations and a banquet had been cancelled because of coronavirus concerns,” Kim Yeon-chul said at a parliamentary hearing.