Dead or alive? The mystery surrounding Kim Jong Un demonstrates the limits of U.S. intelligence on North Korea by JennaMC_Laugh
As rumors swirl about the death or incapacitation of Kim Jong Un, the third in a line of reclusive dictators of North Korea, experts who have pored over the limited information available say it’s likely no one outside the country knows for sure what his current condition is.
The range of possible scenarios inside North Korea is wide. Kim could be vacationing or recovering from a medical procedure, or isolating himself from coronavirus infection like much of the world. Extracting information from North Korea, a place that is cut off from the rest of the world, has always been extremely difficult for intelligence gathering. “When I was in intelligence, we called North Korea the hardest of the hard targets,” said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA officer and a senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation.
If the rumors are true, or even if Kim is temporarily out of commission, the pandemic could make it even harder to understand what’s going on and how to send aid. Even smuggling between North Korea and China is cut off, removing one of the methods the regime uses to keep afloat amid crippling sanctions, Klingner noted.The potential for a large exodus of North Korean refugees “would be of real concern to China, given its 900-mile border with North Korea,” wrote DeTrani.
If Kim is dead or dies, experts believe the most likely successor would be his sister, Kim Yo Jong, whose position in the elite society and political rankings has been elevated over recent years. Her status as a Kim might be more important than her gender.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Korea says North Korea's absent Kim may be trying to avoid coronavirusFear of catching the coronavirus could have kept North Korean leader Kim Jong Un away from state ceremonies for a key holiday in mid-April, a South Korean minister said as speculation swirled over Kim’s whereabouts and health via HeeShin joshjonsmith
Read more »
History Shows North Korea Is Good at Guarding Secrets of Kim Family’s Health“It’s impossible to know in real-time when and if the North Korean leader has fallen ill.” The health of North Korean leaders is among the regime’s most closely guarded secrets—and something intelligence agencies have struggled to monitor.
Read more »
South Korea April exports to post worst decline since 2009: Reuters pollSouth Korea's exports were seen contracting at the sharpest pace in nearly 11 years in April as the coronavirus pandemic caused massive disruptions to global supply chains and economic activity, a poll showed on Tuesday.
Read more »