In the midst of much speculation about his health and the condition of the mysterious North Korea, Kim Jong Un made his first public appearance since September 3.
On Tuesday local time, Kim appeared to the public giving “field guidance” at a new residential district called Wisong Scientists Residential District, according to KCNA, an official state agency.
The last time he was seen, on September 3, he was at a concert with his wife. Since then, he had missed important memorial celebrations that commemorate the Kim family and the Communist Party in North Korea.
His absence brought about a whirlwind of speculation of his health, including reports that he is suffering from gout, diabetes, and a leg injury. The public also wondered if there were internal problems within the government leadership, and whether that had been the reason behind his absence.
Kim’s absence was especially noted by international media because in North Korea, the ruler’s public presence is especially important.
“In the North Korean cult of personality leadership, public appearances are everything,” Victor Cha, the former director for Asian affairs on the National Security Council, wrote on Politico.
“It grafts the image of Kim’s leadership onto the minds and psyche of every individual and reinforces on a daily basis the undying loyalty expected of the system,” Cha went on. “Thus, every day that he is not in view is another day that speculation grows outside of North Korea. Given the growing porousness of North Korea’s information borders these days, that speculation will eventually work its way inside the country—if it hasn’t already—possibly undermining Kim’s support within the regime.”
Though this recent one had been his longest absence, this is not the first time that Kim has been absent for periods of time. He had been absent from public view for 24 days between June and July, and was absent for another period of 29 days between end of July and end of August.
