As the rumour mill speculates about Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un’s health– who is either “dead” or “critically ill”, the Korean Central News Agency reported that the North Korean leader on Friday cut a ribbon to inaugurate a fertiliser factory.
However, wild theorists are claiming that Kim Jong Un has a body double after he made his first public appearance. The pictures have been seized upon by internet sleuths who claim that the man pictured is a political decoy and not Kim at all, said a Mail Online report.
According to the report, the ears and teeth of Kim have been the focus, many comparing very dated images of a younger Kim, to last week’s recent pictures of the North Korean leader.
Human rights activist Jennifer Zeng first pointed out differences, tweeting: “Is the Kim Jong-un appearing on May 1 the real one?”
Commenting on her post, one Twitter user said: “Look at the teeth though.”
Look at the teeth though.
— Christine (@Christi62293265) May 2, 2020
According to IB Times, it is a “well-known fact” that Kim Jong-un uses body doubles and travels with them to ward off assassination attempts.
Here’s how netizens reacted…
It’s not the same person. But not going to argue it. Hairy moment when I thought my information was wrong. It wasn’t wrong though.
Not sure whether it suits us to go along with it or not, but these two are not the same. pic.twitter.com/rV3qgK281p
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) May 2, 2020
Don’t know, don’t care. See no reason to alter my earlier stance.
These aren’t the same man. pic.twitter.com/1Ncw8rGGwr
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) May 2, 2020
The chipped incisor is a definite giveaway it’s not Kim Jong Un.
So why a body double? If he’s dead why not just announce it and crown his successor? https://t.co/AVUz7Kl9CS
— August September (@SeptAugustus) May 2, 2020
His nose seems a little bit more rounded, his hairline looks wider, and he used to have WAY more wrinkles around the eyes when he smiled. The hairline may just be receding or a fresh new haircut, but the smoother eyes and slightly different nose have me questioning things
— @BacquesJrel) May 2, 2020
Most definitely NOT the same person.
— Lis (@lisac102) May 5, 2020
World media has been rife with reports suggesting the North Korean leader’s ill health after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure at a hospital on April 12.
CNN had reported that Kim was in “grave danger”, citing unnamed US officials who reportedly told the publication that “the concerns about Kim’s health are credible but the severity is hard to assess.”
However, soon after this, the South Korean government’s Unification Ministry and National Intelligence Service said that it was looking into US media reports and later stated that the Supreme Leader in the North was not “gravely ill”.
Speculation has been rife about what happened to Kim since he apparently skipped an annual visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the 108th birthday of his late grandfather and state founder Kim Il-sung on April 15.
However, today a South Korean spy agency denied rumours about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s illness, and his alleged heart surgery, stating that he is ruling the republic and is completely stable.
The NIS stated that he had no health problems related to his heart, adding that even a mild procedure for the aforementioned ailment would require four to five weeks of rehabilitation.
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