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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is seen dozing while attending a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang, Wednesday, in this video footage released by the state-controlled Korean Central Television, Thursday. |
By Yi Whan-woo
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was caught dozing while attending a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly, Wednesday, in video footage released by the country's state-controlled Korean Central Television (KCTV), Thursday.
Kim was seen remaining still for about five seconds in his seat with his eyes closed when a camera caught him while filming the meeting.
The camera then quickly turned to the audience. It is unknown whether the KCTV mistakenly kept the moment in the recorded broadcast or intended to show the tyrant's "sleepless and restless" efforts to serve his people, said analysts here.
Previously, South Korea's spy agency claimed that Kim ordered the execution of then-Defense Minister Hyon Yong-chol in April 2015 after he was caught dozing during a meeting that he presided over. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Kim was angered at Hyon "being disrespectful and disloyal" to him.
An official at the Ministry of Unification said, "It's difficult to confirm whether he was asleep by only watching the footage."
But the footage went viral in online communities.
"I bet someone is going to be killed with an anti-aircraft gun again," Naver ID: l14k**** commented, referring to rumors that Hyon was shot to death by an anti-aircraft gun.
Another Naver user, nj52**** wrote, "North Korea should execute its leader just like he killed his people."
Some analysts said the airing of the moment may have been intentional.
"North Korea is trying to underscore Kim's image as a sleepless and restless leader serving his people," said An Chan-il, the head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies.
He cited that Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea's unicameral legislature, was intended to consolidate Kim's leadership in addition to the ruling Workers' Party congress in May.
Park Young-ho, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, disagreed saying, "It's just a coincidence and we should refrain from making wild speculations over the incident."
Over 100 officials, including high-profile figures, are believed to have been killed since Kim took power in December 2011, according to the Institute for National Security Strategy, a think under the NIS.
The victims include Ri Yong-ho, who preceded Hyon as defense chief, and Kim's uncle Jang Song-thaek. They were accused of being disloyal to Kim for trivial reasons.
But Kim, who is believed to be in his early 30s, left his younger sister Kim Yo-jong unpunished although she made gaffes repeatedly while accompanying her brother to national events. She was caught roaming around behind her brother on camera while he was giving a speech live during a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the Workers' Party in October 2015. She was elected as a member of the party's powerful Central Committee in May.
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