SK Spy Agency: ‘Kim Jong Eun Received Surgery on Left Ankle Sept.-Oct.’

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Eun sustained an injury to a muscle in his left ankle in May and had a cyst surgically removed some time in September or October by a specialist flown in from overseas, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service [NIS] on Tuesday. Daily NK previously reported that information about the leader having had surgery on his left ankle was circulating among residents within North Korea.

The statement came during an inspection of government offices conducted by the National Assembly’s intelligence committee. Due to his extreme obesity and excessive public appearances, there are possibilities of lingering side effects and recurrences, ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Lee Cheol Woo and opposition lawmaker Shin Kyoung Min said in briefing, relaying information provided by the NIS. 

To prepare for a potential recurrence, North Korean doctors are currently said to be in Europe to study in the field, the lawmakers said. 

According to the lawmakers, the spy agency also said Kim Jong Eun is carrying out a second purge of any officials that still remain from the clout of Jang Song Taek, who was executed by the current leader. 

Kim Jong Eun’s leadership is working to erase any traces [of Jang], the assemblymen told reporters, adding, Party cadres are on their toes because of this. 

The NIS also told the committee that North Korea is carrying out more executions and expanding the operation of political prison camps, adding, some 10 Party cadres were executed for receiving bribes, womanizing, and watching South Korean TV dramas. 

Meanwhile, the spy agency also told the committee that Kim demoted a military corps commander and all related Party members by two ranks for having poor performance in artillery targeting.