Kim Jong-un hiding out in beach villa after his cronies caught coronavirus, reports claim as health rumours rage
KIM Jong-un travelled to an exclusive beach resort after people around him tested positive for the coronavirus, it has been reported.
The North Korean dictator reportedly left the capital Pyongyang on his private train and headed to Wonsan-Kalma peninsula last week where he has a private villa.
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Kim, who is believed to be 36, opted to head to the Wonsan-Kalma peninsula, on the east coast of the country, after members of his inner circle fell ill, Korean outlet Ichannela reported.
Japanese newspaper The Sansei suggested that Kim had fled Pyongyang because of coronavirus spreading in the densely populated city.
Ultra-secretive North Korea has said there has not been a single virus case on its territory, but the claim is questioned by many outside experts.
Yesterday it emerged a defector to China had tested positive for coronavirus.
Meanwhile speculation has been growing about the health of the North Korean leader.
Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported on Monday that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12.
The state-controlled media in North Korea has been silent on their leader's whereabouts.
The leader recently missed the public celebration of his grandfather's birthday on April 15, which raised speculation about his well-being.
But South Korea later suggested that there was "no unusual activity detected in North Korea".
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One senior White House reporter said she had been told Trump officials were already looking into who would be in line for succession.
US government experts do not believe Kim's influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, is a shoo-in to succeed him were he to die.
They believe there is no clear designated successor in the event that Kim dies, the source said.
But Donald Trump yesterday dismissed rumours about Kim’s health at a daily White House briefing.
Trump had said on Tuesday that he might contact North Korean officials to inquire about Kim but gave no indication on if he had done so.
The two leaders have had regular communications over the past couple of years.
"We have a good relationship with North Korea, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong-un and I hope he's okay," Trump said.
US officials acknowledge Kim does have a history of health problems and is overweight, and say that this does at least raise a credible possibility he has suffered some kind of health crisis, the source said.
But they do not regard theories that Kim has had a heart attack or some other serious health setback as confirmed, and said he has disappeared from public view for extended periods in the past.
