NEW DELHI: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose birthday is believed to be on January 8, celebrated turning 40 on Monday. However, Pyongyang media continued its decades-long tradition of silence on Kim’s presumed birthday.
While North Korea‘s secretive regime has never officially confirmed Kim’s birthdate, the US government lists his birth year as 1984, making him 40 years old this year.
The birth dates of Kim’s father and grandfather, who ruled before him, are observed as national holidays in the authoritarian state. However, Kim Jong Un’s presumed birthdate has consistently passed quietly without mention in the media or on the country’s calendars.
The closest North Korea has come to confirming the date was in January 2020 when authorities acknowledged Kim had received birthday greetings from then-US President Donald Trump. However, the exact date of his birthday remains uncertain.
This year, the state news agency KCNA showed Kim visiting a chicken farm with his daughter and senior officials. South Korea’s intelligence agency stated earlier this month that it believes the daughter, known as Ju-ae, may be a likely successor.
Kim’s government is heavily sanctioned over the country’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, as well as human rights abuses.
(With inputs from agencies)