Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader, has not been seen in public for about two months, despite his officials making aggressive threats against enemies. The last known images of him are from June 9, showing him meeting with Chinese counterparts in North Korea.
Missed Major Events
Normally a constant presence at public events, Kim has skipped several significant occasions. Earlier this week, he failed to appear at a ceremony in Pyongyang marking the 73rd anniversary of the end of the Korean War, an event he usually attends.
His absence was also noted at the inspection of the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Complex in Pyongyang and the opening of a "schoolchildren's palace" in Nampho. Premier Pak Thae-song attended the locomotive complex in his place.
Officials' Threats
Meanwhile, North Korean officials condemned a US-led naval exercise, calling it a "war rehearsal." A military commentator, cited by Yonhap News, said the exercise involving the US, Japan, and South Korea proves that RIMPAC is "a war rehearsal of aggression."
The commentator added that the threat from the "trinity" of the US, Japan, and South Korea is a new security crisis in the Asia-Pacific region, and that North Korea's response will be "a deterrence of new level."
