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South Korean Officials Deny Talk About Kim Jong Un's Health

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - South Korea's government is disputing reports that
   North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seriously ill after undergoing heart
   surgery.

   "We have nothing that could substantiate that[Kim Jong Un]has a health
   situation," a senior South Korean foreign ministry official told VOA.

   A South Korean presidential spokesperson earlier said Seoul has
   detected no unusual activity in North Korea and has "nothing to
   confirm" regarding the reports about Kim, who was absent from a key
   public celebration last week.

   The Daily NK, a South Korea-based online publication with a network of
   contacts in North Korea, on Tuesday reported Kim was in stable
   condition after a heart operation.

   The report cited unnamed "sources" who speculated the surgery was due
   to "a number of factors, including [Kim's] obesity, prolific smoking
   habits, and 'overwork.'"

   CNN, the U.S.-based television news network, later quoted unnamed U.S.
   officials who said they are "monitoring intelligence" that Kim is in
   "grave danger" after the surgery. The nature of the alleged
   intelligence was not clear.

   Another unnamed U.S. official quoted by Bloomberg News said, "the White
   House was told that Kim underwent surgery last week and took a turn for
   the worse." That report said Kim was in critical condition.

   Western countries are believed to have very few,if any,intelligence
   assets in North Korea, one of the most secretive and oppressive
   countries in the world. North Korea has not commented on the matter.

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