Report: Kim Jong-un Fled Pyongyang Fearing Chinese Coronavirus
The conservative South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo claimed on Wednesday that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un fled the nation’s capital, Pyongyang, fearing a potential infection of Chinese coronavirus. Kim appeared in North Korean propaganda photos that Pyongyang claimed were taken on Monday directing a military drill. He did not appear to be wearing a face mask in the photos, despite state media claiming North Koreans had implemented emergency measures to prevent an outbreak.
The Chinese coronavirus originated in Wuhan, central China, in December, but Communist Party officials took over a month to identify and later notify the public to take measures to prevent an outbreak. It has since spread globally, hitting South Korea particularly painfully due to its spread from a religious congregation that had visited Wuhan. North Korea’s location between South Korea and China – as well as the communist government’s total control over news and information – make it a prime location for a severe outbreak, but Pyongyang claims it has not documented any cases of the respiratory infection within its borders. There is no evidence that North Korean hospitals have tested anyone for the Chinese coronavirus or that they have the ability to do so.
Chosun Ilbo claimed, citing “a government source” in South Korea, that Kim had left Pyongyang “for a considerable time” after China revealed that it had identified a new type of coronavirus. The source cited “intelligence analysis,” presumably conducted by South Korean officials. The Chosun Ilbo report notes that Kim’s presence outside of Pyongyang is not news – a separate set of military drills he reportedly led last week took place in Wonsan, a port city that Kim has for years attempted to turn into a beach resort – but the fact that coronavirus fears prompted the travel does add new context to Kim’s behavior. North Korean state media’s last glimpse of Kim for the public appeared on Tuesday, showing Kim “watching a long-range artillery strike drill a day earlier with binoculars in his hands,” according to the South Korean news service Yonhap. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the main North Korean propaganda outlet, did not specify where that drill took place. “As an order to start the fire was given, the brave artillerymen on the front who have further sharply whetted the bayonet for the revolution with the high spirit of annihilating the enemy amid the flames of the training revolution personally kindled by the Supreme Leader and the wind of hard training for strengthening combat power, opened fire all at once,” KCNA reported.
https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2020/03/11/report-kim-jong-un-fled-pyongyang-fearing-chinese-coronavirus/