North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's health may be in grave danger after undergoing surgery, according to a report by CNN. Kim was last seen in public on April 11, and speculation began about his health after he missed the celebration of his grandfather's birthday on April 15.
He reportedly underwent surgery on April 12 and was recovering at a hospital in the Mount Kumgang resort county of Hyangsan, according to the New York Post.
Intelligence gathering has been difficult in the recluse nation, and previous reports about Kim's health have proven unfounded.
"There have been a number of recent rumors about Kim's health (smoking, heart, and brain). If Kim is hospitalized, it would explain why he wasn't present on the important April 15 celebrations," Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former CIA deputy division chief for North Korea, told CNN. "But, over the years, there have been a number of false health rumors about Kim Jong-un or his father. We'll have to wait and see."
Government officials have refused to comments about the reports.
Photo: Getty Images