Recent satellite photos show a train probably belonging to Kim Jong Un at his compound amid speculation about the North Korean leader's health.
North Korea’s isolation breeds endless speculation, this time about Kim Jong Un’s health and possible successors.Kim Jong Un’s train has been parked at the Leadership Railway Station servicing his Wonsan compound since at least April 21, the website 38 North said Saturday, citing an analysis of recent satellite photos of the area. The website said that the approximately 820-foot-long train wasn’t present on April 15 but was present on both April 21 and 23.
The photos indicate the train arrived before April 21 and was still present on April 23, when it appeared to be repositioned for departure. However, there was no indication when that departure might take place, 38 North said. North Korea exerts extremely tight control on information about its leadership, making it virtually impossible for outsiders to find out what’s going on at those senior levels. Even South Korea’s main spy agency has a mixed record on confirming developments in North Korea. When Kim Jong Il died in December 2011, for instance, few outsiders knew it until it was reported by North Korea’s state media two days later.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to talk to the media, said the latest rumors about Kim’s health had not changed the U.S. assessment of the information as “speculation.”Danny Russel, a former National Security Council director and assistant secretary of State for Asia who has dealt with North Korea in the past, cautioned that rumors have abounded for years about Kim, his father and his grandfather, and most turned out to have been false.
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.
Meet Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s Sister—And Possible Successor In North Korea
Read more »
Trump thinks report was incorrect on illness of North Korea's Kim Jong UnU.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threw more cold water on reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was gravely ill, but declined to say if he had been in touch with officials there.
Read more »
N. Korea Dictator Kim Jong-un Reportedly Dead After Botched Heart SurgeryKim Jong-un is reportedly about to kick the bucket, or already has.
Read more »
China sends doctors to North Korea as TV report fuels speculation about Kim Jong Un's healthChina has sent a team of doctors to North Korea to help determine Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un's health status, Reuters reported on Friday. Hong Kong state media reported that Kim was dead, though there has been no confirmation from U.S. sources at this point.
Read more »