hankyoreh

located within a national cemetery for patriots in Pyongyang

The government has taken the unusual step of asking the news media to refrain from speculations about North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s health.

“The government is of the view that the reporting of unconfirmed facts does not help inter-Korean relations,” said Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun in a press conference on September 16.

Citing reports about the North Korean leader’s health based on anonymous government sources, the ministry spokesman said that “while we have various intelligence,” none have been officially confirmed by the government. “It is important that information that is reported is confirmed information,” he said.

Since the South Korean government confirmed for the first time on September 10 that Kim Jong-il was having health problems, the country’s media have been in virtual competition to quote legislative and executive branch officials with all sorts of tidbits about the North Korean leader’s health, for example that he is “able to brush his own teeth” or “can stand if assisted.”

The government’s motive in asking for restraint on the part of the news media appears to be fear that speculative reports could anger Pyongyang, especially if based on quotes from government sources, further hurting inter-Korean relations at a time when they are hurting already.

Some observers say the government’s request is late in coming and is an attempt to evade responsibility for initially being behind many of the speculative reports.

On September 10, it has been learned, National Intelligence Service Director Kim Sung-ho told the National Assembly’s intelligence committee that Kim Jong-il had experienced problems in his cranial nerve area and was recovering after surgery. It was around this time that the South Korean news media began indiscriminate publication of reports on the leader’s health.

This comes in stark contrast to the prudent coverage seen in neighboring countries. Officials in the United States, China and Japan have been avoiding direct comment. On September 10 the White House spokesperson said there was no confirmed intelligence on Kim’s health. On September 11 the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Chinese officials “have not heard from the North Koreans that there is anything wrong with Chairman Kim’s health. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said September 10 that it is “the position of the Japanese government to not comment in detail.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]