CNN: According to U.S. intelligence, North Korean leader is dying

According to an American official, the US is following intelligence data, which suggests that DPRK leader Kim Jong-un is in mortal danger after a previous operation. A second source familiar with intelligence reported CNNthat the US is closely monitoring reports on the health status of the North Korean leader.

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On April 15, Kim Jong-un missed his grandfather's birthday celebration, which sparked speculation about his health. The DPRK leader was seen four days earlier at a government meeting.

A US official told CNN on April 20 that concerns about Kim Jong Un's health were credible, but the severity of his condition was difficult to assess. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said the United States is "closely monitoring" reports on the North Korean leader's health.

“We're following these reports very closely,” O'Brien said during an April 21 interview. “As you know, North Korea is a very closed society.”

Later that day, a representative of the US Department of Defense said that according to a US military assessment, there is currently no evidence suggesting that Kim Jong-un is incapacitated.

Daily NK, an online newspaper based in South Korea specializing in North Korea, reports that on April 12, Kim Jong-un underwent a procedure related to the cardiovascular system. Such a need allegedly arose because of “excessive smoking, obesity and overwork”, according to a news site that adds that the DPRK leader is currently undergoing treatment in a villa in Xiangsan County.

After Kim’s condition improved, most of the treating medical team returned to Pyongyang on April 19, and only a part of them remained to observe his recovery, the website reports. CNN cannot acknowledge this message.

The Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Defense of South Korea responded to the request: "No comment."

The National Security Council and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence of the United States declined to comment on the news. CNN also turned to the CIA and the State Department for comments.

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Meanwhile, US officials are turning to North Korean experts, especially those who have studied Kim’s regime to talk about emergency planning, a third source familiar with the information told CNN.

However, the situation remains unclear because gathering intelligence from North Korea is no easy task—one of the toughest targets for U.S. intelligence. North Korea tightly controls any information surrounding its leader, who is treated almost like a deity in the country. His absence from official state media often sparks rumors about his health. North Korea does not have a free press. Analysts rely heavily on scouring state media dispatches and watching propaganda videos for any semblance of a clue.

Kim Jong-un last appeared on North Korean state media on April 11. April 15—North Korea's most important holiday, the anniversary of the birth of the country's founding father Kim Il Sung—came and passed without any official mention of Kim Jong Un's movements. When North Korean leaders did not participate in these important celebrations in the past, it was a sign of serious things to come.

The absence of Kim Jong Il at the parade dedicated to the 60th anniversary of North Korea in 2008 was accompanied by rumors that he was in poor health. It later turned out that he had a stroke, after which his health continued to deteriorate until his death in 2011.

Kim Jong-un disappeared from public view for more than a month in 2014, which also caused speculation about his health. He returned with a cane, and a few days later, South Korean intelligence said that he had his ankle cyst removed.

However, due to concerns about Kim’s health, US-South Korean relations are causing concern for US officials, CNN sources said.

On April 20, President Donald Trump said the two countries have a "great relationship" but added that he wants them to pay more for the U.S. presence in the country. The two countries have already missed several deadlines for negotiations. And now personal negotiations are difficult due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Note that in the event of the death of Kim Jong-un, power in North Korea will pass to his sister, 31-year-old Kim Yo Jong.

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