North Korea atwitter over alleged assassination attempt on Kim Jong Un

A rumor is going around North Korea that a stack of explosives was found hidden inside the Kalma Airport on Oct. 6, allegedly planted to take leader Kim Jong Un's life, NK News reports. An anonymous source told Radio Free Asia that the discovery of the explosives in the international airport a day before the Dear Leader was due to arrive prompted his visit to be "canceled immediately."
The alleged explosives — said to be a "box of TNT" that was found "planted inside the roof of the airport's information desk" — had reportedly gone undetected in a search of the airport by Kim Jong Un's Supreme Guard Command. North Korea's State Security Department (SSD) reportedly discovered the hidden explosives.
South Korea says it smells a rat though: Jeong Jim-man, a former demolition instructor from the South Korean Special Forces, told NK News that he thinks the whole story may very well be "just another North Korea rumor."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"If North Korea's SSD had found out the explosives which Kim Jong Un's Supreme Guard Command had failed to locate, than the Supreme Guard Command might have been involved in the assassination attempt," he said. "But, also, it might have been an SSD setup to win Kim Jong Un's favor by setting up the TNT and pretending that they found it after the Supreme Guard Command had already swept the site."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Can US tourism survive Trump's policies?
Today's Big Question The tourist economy is 'heading in the wrong direction'
-
September's books tell of friendship in middle age, teachers versus fascists, and Covid psychosis
the week recommends September books include Angela Flournoy's 'The Wilderness,' Randi Weingarten's 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' and Patricia Lockwood's 'Will There Ever Be Another You'
-
'Total rat eradication in New York has been deemed impossible'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, Baltimore
Speed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer