South Korea has called for peace with North Korea, seemingly taking advantage of the disappearance of Kim Jong-un. For around two months, the despot has not been seen in public despite spending his entire public life being in the spotlight.
Last Public Appearance
The last available images of him are actually photos of the front page of a North Korean newspaper, showing him meeting with his counterparts in China in North Korea. That was on June 9, with almost a total silence since then – and that includes some very strange things happening from the country's media, such as images disappearing. And there hasn't been any real new pictures of him at a mass public gathering since the end of March.
South Korea's Peace Initiative
And seemingly taking advantage of this, South Korean leaders are looking to make peace - something that has normally never been spoken about between the two countries. A spokesman for South Korea said: "The ministry will continue efforts for peaceful coexistence with North Korea to bear fruit, keeping in mind the president's call for patience."
"Nothing will happen if we stay put," before adding that they need to "create even the smallest opportunity to bring peace in challenging conditions".
Officials React
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young added fuel to the peaceful fire, by defending the new peace initiative. He told local media that "the president said it must feel like a cry that goes unanswered, but he told us to keep working toward peaceful coexistence, and to be patient."
But Foreign Minister Cho Hyun tried to play down the move, and said it was "idealistic". She added: "It would be great if that vision came true. But realistically, our ministry does not see it as achievable."
"We only can change reality only if we have idealism. I believe we can help move the government forward when we cooperate with each other. It is not idealism but the most realistic and practical approach at this moment."
North Korea's Response
Meanwhile, in North Korea, he was also absent when his own officials slammed a US-led naval exercise and hit back at what it called a “war rehearsal”. A spokesman, cited as a “military commentator,” said: “The deputy commander of the US Pacific Fleet openly said that the commanding role of the ROK and Japan was not a symbolic one but for the actual operation.
“This goes to prove that RIMPAC, the largest-ever naval drill in the world, is, in fact, a war rehearsal of aggression led by the US, Japan and the ROK."
But the question still remains . . . where exactly is Kim Jong-un and why has he not been seen for months?
