Kim Jong Un ‘flees North Korean capital to escape coronavirus’
- Source in South Korea has claimed Kim Jong Un fled to the coastal city Wonsan
- It said Supreme Leader has been away from Pyongyang for a ‘considerable time’
- Comes amid reports around 180 soldiers have died after contracting COVID-19
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Kim Jong Un has fled the North Korean capital for the coast in a bid to escape coronavirus, an insider has claimed.
A source in South Korea said the Supreme Leader fled Pyongyang for Wonsan on the nation’s east coast amid growing fears over the virus.
‘Intelligence analysis suggests that Kim Jong-un has been away from Pyongyang for a considerable time,’ the source told Chosun Ilbo. ‘This appears to be connected with the coronavirus outbreak.’
It comes amid reports that roughly 180 soldiers have died after contracting COVID-19 in the secretive state.
A source in South Korea has claimed Kim Jong Un (pictured on Monday) fled North Korean capital Pyongyang for Wonsan on the nation’s east coast amid growing fears over the virus
A source in the North’s military leaked the apparent death toll to South Korea’s Daily NK newspaper and claimed most of the deaths had occurred close to the border with China.
A further 3,700 soldiers were under quarantine after testing positive for the virus, it was added.
Pyongyang continues to deny COVID-19 has any presence within its borders.
The regime is also developing a ‘broad-spectrum antiviral injection which is highly effective in treatment of various diseases’, according to a report from Monday which didn’t name the virus.
The nation’s neighbour South Korea has seen one of the world’s most significant outbreaks of the virus, with 66 reported deaths amid 7,800 infections.
The most recent photographs of Kim Jong Un, released by North Korean media on Tuesday, show him overseeing a live fire artillery exercise in an undisclosed location.
‘Intelligence analysis suggests that Kim Jong-un has been away from Pyongyang for a considerable time,’ the source said
The most recent photographs of Kim Jong Un, released by North Korean media on Tuesday, show him overseeing a live fire artillery exercise in an undisclosed location (pictured)
In the images, he appears bare-faced alongside a deputy who dons a surgical mask.
One of the images shows munitions exploding on a cliff face with water nearby, perhaps suggesting a coastal location.
It’s unclear when he was last in the country’s capital, but photos dated February 29 show him addressing the political bureau of the ruling party’s central committee, most likely in Pyongyang.
He was also photographed at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on February 16.
Kim Jong Un is known to have been in Wonsan on March 2, when he oversaw another test firing exercise.
A beach resort, reputed to be a ‘North Korean Benidorm’, is being constructed in the coastal town, which is also said to be the site of the Supreme Leader’s favourite Dacha.
In its report, Daily NK added that the wave of deaths had led to corpses being disinfected rather than cremated in defiance of government orders.
‘There’s just too many bodies,’ their source said. ‘The military leadership likely believes that suddenly asking the hospitals to cremate all the bodies would create a big headache for medical staff.’
The insider added that army chiefs would ‘be held responsible for the deaths that have occurred in their units’.