In the last three weeks or so, almost everyone was convinced that the world’s chubbiest dictator had died.
Rumours that Kim Jong-un was in grave danger after undergoing heart surgery were swirling around the internet.
Some people celebrated, thinking this was the end of dictatorship in North Korea, but then we saw who might take over, and we all got even more worried.
But it was all just a disappearing act, in the end. Much like a magician, Kim Jung-un has reappeared out of nowhere, and he looks happier and chubbier than ever.
Kim Jong-Un Re-Appeared, Dismissing Claims of His Death
North Korean state television showed the Supreme leader walking, smiling broadly, and smoking a cigarette at what the North said was the opening of a fertiliser factory on Friday in Sunchon, reported CNA.
Reappearing at a fertiliser factory after three weeks of uncertainty about your health is a nice, non-verbal way to say those reports of your death were bullshit.
A North Korean news agency also released photos of his appearance at the factory, where he was seen applauding, cutting a ribbon, and standing with his hands behind his back at the new fertilizer factory.
According to the news agency, “All the participants again burst into thunderous cheers of ‘hurrah’.” As you know, news agencies in North Korea never embellish the truth to flatter their leader, so this must be true.
It also said that Kim “warmly acknowledged the builders and masses raising thunderous cheers” before going for a tour of the fertiliser factory, accompanied by senior officials from the ruling Workers’ Party, including his only sister, Kim Yo-jong.
No outside media was allowed to witness the ceremony, according to The New York Times.
Trump is “Glad”
One man, in particular, couldn’t be happier to see Kim alive and well, and he’s not a North Korean citizen being interviewed by the state or Captain Ri Jeong-Hyeok.
US President Donald Trump said he is “glad” that Kim Jong-un has re-emerged and appears to be healthy.
“I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well!” Trump tweeted after the photos of Kim’s appearance at the ceremony were released.
I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well! https://t.co/mIWVeRMnOJ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2020
Trump had earlier downplayed reports of Kim’s possible death, saying he knows how the supreme leader is doing and hopes he is fine.
Hopefully, the two best friends can meet again soon.
Disappeared Like This Before
This isn’t the first time that Kim has pulled such a disappearing act.
In September 2014, he went missing for 40 days after attending a concert. He reappeared in mid-October, using a cane, reported BBC.
The state media never explained where he had been, but South Korea’s intelligence agency said he probably had an operation on his left ankle stemming from problems with a cyst, or there was simply one good drama in Netflix that he couldn’t resist binge-watching.
So, even if he had heart surgery like many news outlets reported, we might never know about it.
This means he could have been ill, or in the hospital, or even on the couch this whole time binging a show on Netflix (probably not Crash Landing On You, though).
And speaking of Crash Landing on You, there’s another love story in Singapore that’s quite similar to it which you can watch here (and do remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!):
