According to the New York Post, Chang Song-min, a diplomat and former aide to South Korea’s late president Kim Dae-jung, has claimed that Kim is in extremely poor health. Recent appearances by the dictator, it is claimed, have in fact been faked.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service previously reported that Kim had delegated authority to aides including his sister Kim Yo Jong.
Kim Yo Jong‘s increased presence on the political stage provides further evidence the North Korean leader is confined to bed.
On Aug. 20, ranking lawmaker of the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, Ha Tae-keung, told reporters that Kim Jong Un delegated some authority to rule to Kim Yo Jong, partly due to “stress.” Ha was reportedly briefed on the matter by the country’s intelligence agency.
A few hours later, a press officer from the NIS clarified to reporters that the agency simply meant that more authority has been delegated to officials compared to the past, though the press officer also noted that the leader’s sister Kim Yo Jong is “de facto second in command.”
