Kim Jong-un ‘dead’ claims surge as expert exposes North Korean leader's health issue

Writing for the Daily NK website, Chung Chang Yeol, chairman of the North Korea Research Association, said there had been no official reports about Kim since a meeting with the Politburo of the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP) on April 11.

He added: “Although we do not know exactly, it seems clear that Kim had something wrong health-wise due to either excessive drinking or overwork.

“He may have retired to his villa in Wonsan to rest.

“He originally planned to take a short reprise in Wonsan before going up to Pyongyang on the ‘Day of the Sun,’ but skipped the event because he was not feeling well.

“Therefore, he must have felt that economic issues should be left to the experts, Prime Minister Kim Jae Ryong and Vice Chairman Park Pong Ju.”

Chung added: “What happened next, however, was unexpected. After a few days out of the public limelight, rumours began spreading of him being sick or worse.

“By instructing others to send diplomatic telegraphs or deliver birthday presents in his name, Kim may have wanted to add to the curiosity surrounding his health while simultaneously keeping both South Korea and the United States off-balance.

“This kind of behaviour fully utilises the closed and isolated nature of North Korea and, so far, it has been considerably successful.

“This is all, of course, mere speculation.

“However, we need to take this opportunity to be more cautious in approaching North Korea because properly understanding the country is not a matter of satisfying intellectual curiosity.

“It is a matter of life and death for us and our children’s present and future, as well as our ability to enjoy freedom and prosperity.”

If Chung’s instincts are correct, it would tally with previous reports about Kim’s alcohol intake.

Since succeeding his father Kim Jong-il in 2011, Kim appears to have put on a significant amount of weight and is known to be fond of whisky and cognac.

In 2013, it was reported he had spent £700,000 a year on Hennessy’s, which can cost more than £4,800 a bottle.

The following year, bizarre claims suggested he also drank large quantities of “snake wine”, out of a bottle with a dead cobra in it, believing it would improve his virility.