Suspicions linger over dictator’s death

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Thu, December 8, 2022 | 18:09

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Suspicions linger over dictator’s death

김정일 사인관련 의혹증폭

Posted : 2011-12-21 16:38

Updated : 2011-12-21 16:38

North Koreans grieve as they visit a portrait of their late leader Kim Jong-il on display in the plaza of the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium in the North Korean capital, Wednesday. / AP-Yonhap

By Park Si-soo

Did North Korean leader Kim Jong-il really die of a heart attack on a moving train Saturday morning on his way to a field inspection?

This is the question that keeps getting asked here despite North Korea’s official announcement of his death with an autopsy report as evidence. It was first asked immediately after Pyongyang’s tearful declaration of Kim’s demise through a “special broadcast” aired at noon Monday, in a knee-jerk reaction with which Seoul responds to most unusual acts in the reclusive state.

With no visible evidence quashing the suspicion, the conspiracy theory continues to mount with what analysts say are “plausible” scenarios questioning virtually every single word in the death notice.

Death on board train?

A big suspicion is whether Kim’s special train was moving when he died, something brought up Seoul’s spy agency chief.

Asked about the destination of the train, Won Sei-hoon, head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), said there was “no sign” that the train was moving at 8:30 a.m., the declared time of Kim’s death, during a meeting with lawmakers at the National Assembly, Tuesday.

Won said the train stayed idle in Pyongyang from Friday to Sunday, citing NIS reports based on satellite images and other intelligence.
A ranking official of the ruling Grand National Party echoed Won’s view, citing what he called “credible” intelligence sources.

The official said the train was Yongsung Station in the North’s capital at the reported time of death, raising the possibility that Kim died in a stationary train. Some North Korea experts were skeptical, saying Kim used multiple special trains.

Saturday morning?

Another rumor states the North Korean leader died at his palace Friday night and his body was discovered by his security team. It continues that the communist regime manipulated the scene to make it seem he passed away while fulfilling a rigorous work schedule to keep his promise of making the North a “strong and prosperous” country by next year.

“If it turns out to be true, the regime used Kim’ death as a tool to boost public confidence in the regime,” a North Korea expert said.

Won said nothing had been confirmed about the rumor.

Heart attack?

The late North Korean leader was well known as a night owl, who used to wake up around noon. Also the mercury in Pyongyang at the announced time of his death hovered around minus 12 degrees centigrade, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

“Kim has cautiously taken part in outdoor activities since he suffered a stroke in 2008,” said an official. “Such cold weather could pose a grave health threat to stroke patients like Kim. Considering this, it’s questionable whether Kim actually went outside in the relatively early morning, braving the cold weather.”

There are some North Korean defectors here who remain suspicious of Pyongyang’s report on the cause of his death, raising very cautiously the possibility of Kim having been assassinated.

Rep. Chun Yo-ok of the ruling Grand National Party also raised the possibility that Kim might have been killed as a result of a power struggle inside the North.

김정일 사인관련 의혹증폭
김정일 북한 국방위원장이 지난 17일 오전 달리는 야전 열차 안에서 사망했다는 북한의 발표와 달리 대기 중인 열차에서 숨을 거뒀다는 분석이 20일 제기됐다. 여권 고위관계자는 이날 "(김 위원장 사망 시점에) 김정일 전용 열차가 평양 룡성역에 서 있는 것을 확인했다"며 "김 위원장이 어디에 가려고 (열차에) 탄 상태에서 사망한 것으로 보인다"고 밝혔다. 이 관계자는 "열차가 움직인 흔적은 없었다"고도 말했다. 위성사진 등 각종 정보 자료를 분석한 결과 이 열차는 지난 15일부터 움직임이 없었던 것으로 알려졌다. 이는 `달리는 야전 열차 안에서 서거했다'는 조선중앙통신 등 북한 매체의 발표와는 다른 것이어서 논란이 일 전망이다. 특히 김 위원장은 지난 15일 마지막 공개 활동 이후 16일부터는 외부 활동을 위한 동선 자체가 없었던 것으로 전해졌다. 김 위원장은 15일 평양에 위치한 광복지구상업중심(대형마트)과 하나음악정보센터를 찾았다. 또한 일각에서 `김 위원장이 16일 밤 평양 관저에서 사망했다'는 설이 나오고 있는데 대해 정보 당국도 관련 첩보를 인지한 것으로 알려졌다. 이와 관련, 원세훈 국가정보원장은 이날 국회 정보위 전체회의에 출석, 김 위원장의 사망 장소 및 시점, 상황 등에 대해 "(북한의 발표를) 그대로 받아들이기 애매하다"고 말했다고 복수의 참석자가 전했다. 이와 함께 김관진 국방장관 역시 이날 국회 국방위 전체회의에 출석해 김 위원장의 사망 장소에 대해 "여러 상황을 검토 중으로 아직 정확하게 밝혀지지 않았다"고 밝혔다. 이에 따라 김 위원장의 사망 시점과 장소 등을 북한이 의도적으로 조작해 발표한 것 아니냐는 의혹이 확산될 것으로 보인다. (연합뉴스)

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