South Korea Downplays Reports That Kim Jong Un Is In Poor Health After Surgery

U.S. and South Korean media had said the North Korean leader was in "grave danger" after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure.
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South Korea has downplayed reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is gravely ill following a surgery.

The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday there was “nothing to confirm” regarding reports that the 36-year-old was in poor health.

South Korea’s Daily NK website had reported that Kim was receiving treatment after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure earlier this month, Reuters said.

Citing a U.S. official with “direct knowledge” of Kim’s situation, CNN reported that Kim was in “grave danger” after a surgery.

But a spokesman for Seoul’s presidential office said Tuesday that “there has been nothing to confirm regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s health anomalies recently reported by some media, and so far no unusual activities have been identified inside North Korea,” according to UPI.

The presidential Blue House did not comment on whether Kim had undergone heart surgery.

Kim recently missed the birthday celebration of his late grandfather and state founder, Kim Il Sung, on April 15, prompting speculation about his health. Both Kim’s grandfather and father died after suffering from heart attacks.

Kim Jong Un’s absence at the ‘Day of the Sun’ anniversary celebration triggered speculation that the North Korean leader, who is aged 36 and overweight, might be having health problems https://t.co/8cSyIvrbmX pic.twitter.com/WTGWRfHGIB

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 18, 2020

This story and headline has been updated with the Blue House’s response.

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