North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un has appeared in public again for the first time in three weeks. North Korean state media today reported a visit by Kim to the Pyongyang mausoleum, where the embalmed corpses of his father Kim Jong Il and his grandfather and „eternal president“ Kim Il Sung are found.
The prolonged absence of Kim Jong Uns had sparked speculation in South Korea that the ruler was restricting his public appearances because of fears that the new corona virus could spread throughout the country.
„Shining Star Day“
Kim’s visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun with senior officials was reportedly to mark Kim Jong Il’s 78th birthday, who died in late 2011. The „Shining Star Day“ is an important holiday in North Korea. The country, diplomatically isolated due to its nuclear weapons program, celebrates a cult of people around the dynasty of the ruling family.
According to reports by South Korean TV stations, it was the first time in 22 days that the neighboring country reported a public appearance to Kim Jong Us. No case of coronavirus infection has been reported from North Korea. The largely isolated country had, among other things, closed the borders with China, where the virus broke out for the first time. The North Korean state media recently reported that as part of the anti-virus measures, the quarantine period had been extended to 30 days. Among other things, all foreigners who lived in the country would have to follow the measure „unconditionally“.
