Is North Korean leader Kim Jong-un 'missing'?

(Baonghean.vn) - According to Dailystar, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is believed to have gone into hiding, raising concerns about a possible imminent missile attack on Guam, a US territory.

The leader of this nuclear nation has not appeared in public for the past 12 days, since his last public appearance when he celebrated the successful ICBM test on July 28.

And prior to the missile test on July 28, he had not appeared in public for 15 days, the period during which Pyongyang was preparing for a second missile test.

North Korean leaders may be planning an attack on Guam. Photo: Getty

However, this week Pyongyang threatened to test-launch medium- to long-range ballistic missiles targeting Guam, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean. This was a strong response to US President Donald Trump's threat of unleashing "fire and fury" if North Korea continued to threaten to attack the country.

And today, the American leader launched an even stronger attack, warning North Korea would be “extremely, extremely frightened.” And with the “big tyrant” Kim Jong-un disappearing again, there are fears that he may be preparing to attack Guam, a move that could trigger a full-scale war.

However, he may go into hiding again out of fear of an assassination plot, which Pyongyang has recently accused South Korea and the United States of planning.

Analyst Gordon Chang predicted that in April, Kim may have gone into hiding for an extended period because he felt his life was threatened. Chang stated, “Kim’s father, the late Chairman Kim Jong-il, disappeared from public view for about six weeks in 2003 right during the Iraq War. Kim Jong-un loves public acclaim, and something similar is likely to happen once he goes into hiding.”

Another possible explanation for Kim's disappearance is that he is seriously ill. Last year, he disappeared for six weeks amid rumors of a serious illness, and in 2014 he did not attend a major event due to "being in an unstable physical condition."

Lan Ha

(According to Dailystar)