(Photo: CNN)

Kim Jong Un’s health

The dictator and supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, isn’t in the best of health and an unnamed U.S. official has “direct knowledge” that Un’s health is in “grave danger.” A second source cited by CNN confirms the intelligence about Kim’s health is credible though South Korea has yet to see any signs or unusual activity from North Korea.

Earlier this month, Kim had heart surgery to help with cardiovascular issues that are linked to Kim’s obesity and heavy smoking habit. Though Kim’s questionable health is public knowledge, it is hard to confirm news reports from North Korea because it is one of the most secretive nations in the world with many left speculating Kim’s actual age (believed to be 36 years old).

A website run by North Korea defectors, Daily NK, is based in Seoul and reports what limited information they receive from North Korean sources. Daily NK reported that Kim underwent heart surgery on April 12 and is recovering in the Pyongyang villa.

North Korean media outlets have also proved they’re unreliable with previous media reports being inaccurate and heavily monitored by the government. There are limited reports regarding Kim’s health but he missed a recent commemoration ceremony for the nation’s founding which has raised speculation.

The #US🇺🇲 is monitoring intelligence that suggests North Korea’s leader, #KimJongUn, is in grave danger after undergoing previous surgery, according to US official with direct knowledge Second source familiar with the intelligence said that the US has been monitoring Kim’s health pic.twitter.com/EJKUuhONCe

— jvillanueva67 (@javillanueva67) April 21, 2020

State media for North Korea has yet to address the status of Kim’s health but released a photo of Kim dated a day before the suspected surgery (April 11) but the date and source of the photo couldn’t be verified. North Korea is also not disclosing any reports or updates regarding the coronavirus.

The U.S. is closely monitoring the situation but the negotiations to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile program have stalled because the Trump administration refuses to ease sanctions. North Korea has also conducted nine missile tests in March, launching back-to-back missiles from ground and fighter jets with one landing off the coast of Japan. They launched missiles on the eve of the state anniversary celebrations and Kim didn’t attend the event in-person.

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23KimJongUn&src=trend_click

There are also reports saying that if Kim doesn’t recover that his successor could be his sister, Kim Yo-Jong, being one of the first female dictators of her time.

Karli W. April 21, 2020