Pyongyang: Jo Yong-won, a North Korean party secretary known to be a close aide to leader Kim Jong-un, has reappeared in public after a two-month absence, a state media photo revealed on Sunday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released an image showing Jo attending a trade show for regional factories in Pyongyang, alongside other officials, marking his return to the public eye.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jo was last featured in state media on February 28 while attending groundbreaking ceremonies for regional industrial factories. His extended absence had fueled speculation regarding a potential purge. South Korea's unification ministry, responsible for inter-Korean affairs, stated last week that it was closely monitoring any possible changes to Jo's status.
Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, commented on Jo's two-month absence, suggesting that he might have been subjected to "revolutionary" education, possibly for disciplinary reasons.