Published 16:47 IST, April 30th 2020

Mike Pompeo warns North Korea at risk of facing famine, says no sight of Kim Jong Un

Pompeo on April 29 said that there is a real risk of famine in North Korea amid the coronavirus outbreak. Pompeo said the US has no info about Kim's whereabouts

Reported by: Vishal Tiwari
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on April 29 reportedly said that re is a real risk of famine in rth Korea amid coronavirus outbreak. Pompeo was answering a question on whereabouts of rth Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is missing from spotlight since April 11. Pompeo during an interview reportedly said that United States has t seen him for weeks w but assured that Washington is watching closely. 

Read: Kim Jong Un's Sudden Disappearance Brings Spotlight To rth Korea

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Pompeo was also asked about Kim Jong Un's health during his daily press briefing on April 29, to which he replied, "So I don’t have anything to add to status of Chairman Kim.  I think President commented on it yesterday." When asked if rth Korea would be safer or more dangerous with or without Kim Jong-un in charge and US' plan on what would happen if he dies, Pompeo said, "We did have a chance to interact with a number of rth Koreans on our various trips, ones that I took along with my team and n when President traveled re for – to meet with Chairman Kim and his team as well.  So we’ve had a chance to meet Chairman Kim’s sister and some of or leaders re as well."

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Pompeo furr added that matter what transpires in rth Korea, United States would continue to focus on its mission, which is to achieve verified denuclearization of state. "Regardless of what transpires inside of rth Korea with respect to ir leadership, our mission remains same.  It’s to deliver on agreement that Chairman Kim made with President Trump back in Singapore, and that’s fully denuclearized, verified denuclearization of rth Korea," Pompeo told reporters.   

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Kim Jong's disappearance

rumours of 36-year-old dictator being seriously ill found a base when Kim failed to appear on annual ceremonies to mark birth anniversary of his grandfar on April 15, a very important event in rth Korea. report was first published in a newspaper in South Korea that follows secretive state closely. US President Donald Trump had earlier this week said that he kws where Kim is but he won't tell anybody, adding fuel to sparking speculations. 

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Read: White House Clarifies It Briefly Follows Twitter Handles During State Visits

Media reports suggest that Kim Jong Un's maybe spending some alone time at his coastal resort in Wonsan as satellite ims from a US-based rth Korea monitoring project, 38 rth, showed a train parked outside a station reserved for family's personal use. As per reports, boats used by Kim were also spotted in Wonsan area, suggesting his presence.

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(Im Credit: AP)
 

16:47 IST, April 30th 2020