LELAND: ALL RIGHT, KITTY, THANK
YOU SO MUCH, GILLIAN.
YOU SO MUCH, GILLIAN.
GILLIAN: WELL, A NEW REPORT OUT
GILLIAN: WELL, A NEW REPORT OUT
THIS MORNING NOT YET CONFIRMED
THIS MORNING NOT YET CONFIRMED
BY FOX NEWS BUT OUR
BY FOX NEWS BUT OUR
CORRESPONDENTS ARE WORKING ON
CORRESPONDENTS ARE WORKING ON
IT.
IT.
CHINA SENT MEDICAL TEAM OVER TO
CHINA SENT MEDICAL TEAM OVER TO
NORTH KOREA TO TAKE A LOOK AT
NORTH KOREA TO TAKE A LOOK AT
KIM JONG UN, THIS COMES AS THE
KIM JONG UN, THIS COMES AS THE
NORTH KOREAN LEADER’S HEALTH
NORTH KOREAN LEADER’S HEALTH
REMAINS UNCLEAR.
REMAINS UNCLEAR.
FOR MORE WE ARE JOINED BY BRUCE,
FOR MORE WE ARE JOINED BY BRUCE,
SENIOR FELLOW FOR NORTHEAST ASIA
SENIOR FELLOW FOR NORTHEAST ASIA
AFTER THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
AFTER THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
BRUCE, THANKS FOR JOINING US, WE
BRUCE, THANKS FOR JOINING US, WE
ARE SEEING EVERYTHING BUBBLING
ARE SEEING EVERYTHING BUBBLING
UP IN TERMS OF FOREIGN REPORTING
UP IN TERMS OF FOREIGN REPORTING
FROM KIM JONG UN IS TOTALLY
FROM KIM JONG UN IS TOTALLY
FINE, RECOVERED WELL FROM HIS
FINE, RECOVERED WELL FROM HIS
SURGERY MID-APRIL 2, HE’S
SURGERY MID-APRIL 2, HE’S
ACTUALLY IN VEGETATIVE STATE
ACTUALLY IN VEGETATIVE STATE
VERGING ON DEATH.
VERGING ON DEATH.
BASED ON WHAT IS KNOWN PUBLICLY
BASED ON WHAT IS KNOWN PUBLICLY
AND BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT
AND BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT
THE REGIME, WHAT’S YOUR BEST
THE REGIME, WHAT’S YOUR BEST
GUESS AS TO WHERE HE ACTUALLY
GUESS AS TO WHERE HE ACTUALLY
IS?
IS?
>> BRUCE:  QUITE SIMPLY WE DON’T
>> BRUCE:  QUITE SIMPLY WE DON’T
KNOW.
KNOW.
WE’VE HAD RUMORS THAT HE’S DEAD,
WE’VE HAD RUMORS THAT HE’S DEAD,
BRAIN DEAD AND THE U.S.
BRAIN DEAD AND THE U.S.
INTELLIGENCE SAYING HE WAS SEEN
INTELLIGENCE SAYING HE WAS SEEN
WALKING AROUND PORT CITY SEVERAL
WALKING AROUND PORT CITY SEVERAL
DAYS AGO AND HE MAY HAVE
DAYS AGO AND HE MAY HAVE
EVACUATED HIMSELF SIMPLY TO
EVACUATED HIMSELF SIMPLY TO
AVOID BEING INFECTED BY COVID.
AVOID BEING INFECTED BY COVID.
THE CHINESE MEDICAL TEAM MAYBE
THE CHINESE MEDICAL TEAM MAYBE
THERE TO DEAL WITH COVID OR KIM
THERE TO DEAL WITH COVID OR KIM
HAS COVID OR OTHERS AROUND HIM.
HAS COVID OR OTHERS AROUND HIM.
SO WE’VE HAD INITIAL REPORTS
SO WE’VE HAD INITIAL REPORTS
WHICH WERE DOWNPLAYED BY U.S.,
WHICH WERE DOWNPLAYED BY U.S.,
SOUTH KOREAN AND CHINESE
SOUTH KOREAN AND CHINESE
OFFICIALS, BUT THEN WE’VE SEEN
OFFICIALS, BUT THEN WE’VE SEEN
AS RECENT SPADE OF RUMORS AND WE
AS RECENT SPADE OF RUMORS AND WE
REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING
REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING
ON THERE.
ON THERE.
GILLIAN: SO WE DO KNOW THAT HE
GILLIAN: SO WE DO KNOW THAT HE
IS -- WELL, IT IS BELIEVED,
IS -- WELL, IT IS BELIEVED,
ESTIMATED THAT HE’S 36 YEAR’S
ESTIMATED THAT HE’S 36 YEAR’S
OLD BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT NEVER
OLD BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT NEVER
CONFIRMS HIS REAL AGE.
CONFIRMS HIS REAL AGE.
WE ALSO KNOW FROM WESTERN
WE ALSO KNOW FROM WESTERN
REPORTING AND WESTERN
REPORTING AND WESTERN
INTELLIGENCE THAT HE IS IN BAD
INTELLIGENCE THAT HE IS IN BAD
HEALTH.
HEALTH.
HE HAS RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS,
HE HAS RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS,
HEART PROBLEMS, WE KNOW THAT HE
HEART PROBLEMS, WE KNOW THAT HE
HAD SOME KIND OF CARDIAC SURGERY
HAD SOME KIND OF CARDIAC SURGERY
IN APRIL.
IN APRIL.
TELL US WHY AT THIS MOMENT,
TELL US WHY AT THIS MOMENT,
RIGHT, THE NORTH KOREAN LEADER
RIGHT, THE NORTH KOREAN LEADER
BEING IN BAD HEALTH POTENTIALLY
BEING IN BAD HEALTH POTENTIALLY
EVEN PASSING IS SOMETHING THAT
EVEN PASSING IS SOMETHING THAT
THE U.S. SHOULD CARE ABOUT, THAT
THE U.S. SHOULD CARE ABOUT, THAT
SHOULD GRIP OUR NATIONAL
SHOULD GRIP OUR NATIONAL
ATTENTION AMID THIS CORONAVIRUS
ATTENTION AMID THIS CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC, SEEMS LIKE THERE’S A
PANDEMIC, SEEMS LIKE THERE’S A
WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO
WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO
WORRY ABOUT.
WORRY ABOUT.
>> BRUCE:  WELL AS THE CASE WHEN
>> BRUCE:  WELL AS THE CASE WHEN
HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY.
HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY.
WE DON’T KNOW IF THEY HAVE
WE DON’T KNOW IF THEY HAVE
SOMETHING BEHIND THE SCENES, SO
SOMETHING BEHIND THE SCENES, SO
RIGHT NOW ALL OF US ARE
RIGHT NOW ALL OF US ARE
SPECULATING WHO THE NEXT LEADER
SPECULATING WHO THE NEXT LEADER
MIGHT BE.
MIGHT BE.
THERE’S NOT AN OBVIOUS CHOICE AS
THERE’S NOT AN OBVIOUS CHOICE AS
WHEN HIS FATHER DIED AND KIM
WHEN HIS FATHER DIED AND KIM
JONG UN HAD BEEN GROOMED FOR
JONG UN HAD BEEN GROOMED FOR
ABOUT 3 YEARS ANOINTED AS THE
ABOUT 3 YEARS ANOINTED AS THE
NEXT LEADER.
NEXT LEADER.
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT HIS SISTER
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT HIS SISTER
MAY BE THE NEXT LEADER.
MAY BE THE NEXT LEADER.
UP UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO
UP UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO
EVERYONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT
EVERYONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT
A STRICT CONFUSION KOREAN
A STRICT CONFUSION KOREAN
CULTURE WOULDN’T ALLOW A WOMAN
CULTURE WOULDN’T ALLOW A WOMAN
LEADER BUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
LEADER BUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS SHE’S GAINED POWER, SHE’S
YEARS SHE’S GAINED POWER, SHE’S
GAINED AUTHORITY AND WE’VE SEEN
GAINED AUTHORITY AND WE’VE SEEN
HER COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS
HER COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS
REALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
REALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS.
YEARS.
THERE’S AN UNCLE OF KIM JONG UN
THERE’S AN UNCLE OF KIM JONG UN
BUT HE’S BEEN REALLY EXILED FOR
BUT HE’S BEEN REALLY EXILED FOR
ABOUT 3 DECADES IN EASTERN
ABOUT 3 DECADES IN EASTERN
EUROPE SERVING AS AMBASSADOR FOR
EUROPE SERVING AS AMBASSADOR FOR
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES BUT RECENTLY
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES BUT RECENTLY
CAME BACK.
CAME BACK.
THERE’S ALWAYS CONCERN WHEN YOU
THERE’S ALWAYS CONCERN WHEN YOU
HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON STATE, IF
HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON STATE, IF
YOU DON’T KNOW WHO THE NEXT
YOU DON’T KNOW WHO THE NEXT
LEADER IS, IT COULD BE A SMOOTH
LEADER IS, IT COULD BE A SMOOTH
TRANSITION OR IT COULD BE A
TRANSITION OR IT COULD BE A
POWER STRUGGLE WHERE EVERYONE IS
POWER STRUGGLE WHERE EVERYONE IS
TRYING TO GRAB THE RING OF POWER
TRYING TO GRAB THE RING OF POWER
AND THEN WHO HAS CONTROL OF THE
AND THEN WHO HAS CONTROL OF THE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE
MILITARY.
MILITARY.
SO IT WILL BE GREAT CONCERN IF
SO IT WILL BE GREAT CONCERN IF
KIM DIES WITHOUT SOME FORMAL
KIM DIES WITHOUT SOME FORMAL
SUCCESSION PLAN.
SUCCESSION PLAN.
GILLIAN: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT
GILLIAN: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT
STATE COLLAPSE, FOX NEWS SPOKE
STATE COLLAPSE, FOX NEWS SPOKE
TO ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
TO ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
EARLIER IN THE WEEK WHO SAID
EARLIER IN THE WEEK WHO SAID
WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT
WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT
ACCOMPANIES KIM JONG UN’S DEATH
ACCOMPANIES KIM JONG UN’S DEATH
WE SEE STATE COLLAPSE AND HUGE
WE SEE STATE COLLAPSE AND HUGE
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE STARVING,
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE STARVING,
FACING STARVATION.
FACING STARVATION.
WE SEE NORTH KOREANS FLEEING
WE SEE NORTH KOREANS FLEEING
NORTH KOREA, CHINESE BORDER
NORTH KOREA, CHINESE BORDER
CREATING REFUGEE CRISIS, DOES
CREATING REFUGEE CRISIS, DOES
THAT SQUARE WITH WHAT YOU
THAT SQUARE WITH WHAT YOU
FORESEE OR WORRY ABOUT?
FORESEE OR WORRY ABOUT?
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF WORST CASE
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF WORST CASE
SCENARIOS, IF THERE’S A REGIME
SCENARIOS, IF THERE’S A REGIME
COLLAPSE OR STRUGGLE FOR POWER
COLLAPSE OR STRUGGLE FOR POWER
UNKNOWN ACTIONS BY MILITARY
UNKNOWN ACTIONS BY MILITARY
FACTIONS WARRANT AGAINST EACH
FACTIONS WARRANT AGAINST EACH
OTHER.
OTHER.
THERE’S CONCERN THAT THERE COULD
THERE’S CONCERN THAT THERE COULD
BE AN EXPLOSION IN THE SENSE OF
BE AN EXPLOSION IN THE SENSE OF
NORTH KOREA LASHING OUT AGAINST
NORTH KOREA LASHING OUT AGAINST
ITS NEIGHBORS OR IMPLOSION WITH
ITS NEIGHBORS OR IMPLOSION WITH
THE REGIME COLLAPSE.
THE REGIME COLLAPSE.
THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
EQUALLY CONCERNED DURING THE TWO
EQUALLY CONCERNED DURING THE TWO
PREVIOUS SUCCESSES OF THE FATHER
PREVIOUS SUCCESSES OF THE FATHER
AND GRANDFATHER WHEN THEY PASSED
AND GRANDFATHER WHEN THEY PASSED
AWAY AND THE SYSTEM WORKED.
AWAY AND THE SYSTEM WORKED.
THERE WAS MAINTAINING OF
THERE WAS MAINTAINING OF
STABILITY SO I THINK IT’S MORE
STABILITY SO I THINK IT’S MORE
LIKELY THE REGIME WILL MAINTAIN
LIKELY THE REGIME WILL MAINTAIN
ITSELF.
ITSELF.
GILLIAN: BRUCE, SORRY TO JUMP IN
GILLIAN: BRUCE, SORRY TO JUMP IN
THERE.
THERE.
WE ARE COMING UP AGAINST A HARD
