Kim Jong un will not visit Moscow

Kim Jong-un Signature

Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, will not visit Moscow for celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War, the Russian president said according to a Putin spokesperson.

Kim was expected not only to attend the military parade but also to have a meeting with Putin. This would have been his first trip abroad since taking power after the death of his father Kim Jong-il in 2011. Kim's father had good relations with Russia during the Soviet period. He travelled to Moscow to visit in his armoured train as he feared flying.

The Putin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists: “He has decided to stay in Pyongyang. This decision is related to internal Korean affairs.” He noted that this information had come through diplomatic channels. North Korea has released no formal statement about the cancelled visit. Kim may have trouble keeping control at home.

South Korean intelligence reports that Kim ordered the execution of 15 people this year. South Korean intelligence is not always accurate about what is happening but in 2013 Kim purged and executed his powerful uncle, Chang Song-thaek, who was earlier his mentor. This event was reported, however, while the executions have not been. The family dynasty may be rather dysfunctional. The South Korean intelligence report claims that several top officials were among those executed, including two vice ministers who had challenged his policies and members of an orchestra. The orchestra members perhaps may have revealed family secrets since Kim's wife was a member of the orchestra. However, much reporting from South Korea and elsewhere is not based upon evidence that is easily verified. As Stephen Evans from BBC News put it: "Its impossible to know what is going on in Kim Jong-un's inner circle."

Earlier Kim disappeared for a period of time, prompting all sorts of speculation about what was happening. The latest theory is that he simply had an operation on one leg. His initial appearances afterward were with a cane. Now photos have appeared purportedly showing he climbed to the top of  North Korea's highest peak although some speculate that he might have had some help getting there. His wife disappeared from view for a while as well but has now been photographed at events with Kim. Kim actually appears with his wife much more than his predecessor ever did.

Last year also, at least six important officials disappeared from public view. South Korean media reported that they had been executed. Perhaps they retired or were just fired but this would be too undramatic for South Korean media. The recent execution reports were given by South Korean intelligence to a parliamentary committee in Seoul. Kim may very well have problems in his government. He probably was anxious to develop relations with Russia since he relies at present almost exclusively on his relationship to China. Perhaps, he feared that if he flew to Russia he would not be let back in to North Korea. But that is more speculation!

Additional resources:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/29/kim-jong-un-executes-15-top-officials-south-korean-spies?CMP=share_btn_tw

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