North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Un missed an important ceremony today, making it 37 days since he has been seen in public — his longest absence since taking power.
He was seen limping in his last televised appearance and North Korea’s news agency said at the time that he had “an uncomfortable physical condition.”
Un’s absence has fueled wild speculation: that he is seriously ill, that there has been a palace coup, that his sister is running the country, that his second-in-command may be taking over.
But North Korea expert Brian Myers tells Here & Now‘s Sacha Pfeiffer he doesn’t think a coup is likely.
“I tend to believe the South Koreans more than other sources, because the South Koreans have managed to recruit some North Koreans high up in the leadership,” Myers said. “So when the South Koreans say they don’t think his leadership is in trouble, I tend to give that more credence than the rumors flying around South Korea now.”
Guest
- Brian Myers, North Korea expert and professor of international studies at Dongseo University in South Korea.
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