Kim Jong-il |
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
Japanese newspapers reported over the weekend that diplomats at North Korean embassies abroad have been instructed by Pyongyang to be on standby for an ``important message.''
Quoting unidentified sources, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported that North Korean diplomats abroad have been instructed to stay at their assigned posts, refrain from traveling and wait for an important message from their central government.
``North Korea issued an order to its embassies that their staff must refrain from making business trips so that they can be ready for an important announcement from their homeland,'' according to the Yomiuri report. ``The order was sent out during the past few days.'' The message from Pyongyang is expected to come out in a few days, the Yomiuri said.
A separate report in Japan's Sankei Shimbun said Sunday that Pyongyang could make an ``important announcement'' on Monday. The newspaper quoted unidentified sources from Japan's Ministry of Defense.
The Yomiuri speculated that the announcement might be connected to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's deteriorating health, or that it may be related to inter-Korean diplomacy. Another possibility is that Pyongyang may announce a new foreign policy initiative including a new diplomatic stance toward the United States. Earlier this month, North Korea was removed from the U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism, in what may turn out to be a breakthrough to restart stalled six-party talks.
Yonhap News Agency reported that South Korean officials are currently assessing the Japanese report but so far haven't detected any unusual movements in Pyongyang.
``We have been checking the Yomiuri report. But so far, we haven't detected anything unusual,'' Yonhap quoted a South Korean government official as saying over the weekend. ``Our security agencies have not detected any unusual activity across the border. But we are continuing to closely monitor the situation.''
The newspaper report came two days after the Stalinist state threatened to cut off all relations with Seoul unless the conservative Lee Myung-bak administration changed its North Korea approach. Pyongyang has described the Lee administration's approach as a ``policy of reckless confrontation'' toward the North.
Japanese media opined that the announcement was related to Kim's health. South Korean intelligence officials have said Kim is recovering from a stroke after undergoing brain surgery in mid-August. The last time the reclusive leader was seen at a public event was back in August, when he inspected a military unit.
michaelha@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
