NK leader Kim Jong-un in critical condition after surgery–report

In this Monday, March 2, 2020, photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a military drill at undisclosed location in North Korea. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is in critical condition after a surgery, CNN said Tuesday, citing a US official with direct knowledge.

Kim was not present at the celebration of the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il-sung on April 15, fueling speculation about his health condition. It was the first time he was absent at the event since he came to power in 2012.

Officials from South Korea’s Unification Ministry and National Intelligence Service said they couldn’t immediately confirm the report. CNN cited an anonymous US official who said Kim was in “grave danger” after an unspecified surgery.

Local media had reported Monday Kim underwent a heart surgery and was in recovery but the Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean affairs, said it couldn’t confirm this. With a report from AFP