North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un may be dead. Sources say he may have died of heart failure. However, due to the very secretive nature of the pariah state, the precise details are not yet clear.
Nonetheless, media outlets in China and Japan have reported his death even if there is still no word from government officials. The Vice Director of Hong Kong Satellite TV, Shijian Xingzou also says she received news of the young leader’s death.
The 36 year old dictator is a serial smoker and scarily overweight. He is reported by Express UK as having been bed-ridden in a vegetable state earlier in the day.
On its part, a Japanese weekly Shukan Gendai reports that Kim Jong-un was left comatose following complications from a heart surgery. One of his surgeons is quoted as saying that the delay in taking on the surgery earlier in the month resulted in him falling really ill.
China had sent a team of doctors to Pyongyang on Thursday to assist with Jong-un’s condition.
Nonetheless, South Korea believes he is not dead and would make an appearance any time soon. It was also observed that he was absent from his grandfather’s birthday on the 15th of April, which is considered unusual.
Meanwhile, there are fears that his death, if confirmed, would spark major civil unrests across the country, South Korean Lt Gen Chun Bum said. In his words, “this could lead to chaos, human suffering and instability.”
Bum added that there might be heightened tensions between North Korea and the West if his death is confirmed.
Forbes predicts that the North Korean leader may be succeeded by his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong who is his closest confidant and already exercises significant influence in the country.