Mystery about fate of Kim Jong-un's chef solved as pictures surface of him with British ambassador

The mystery of the whereabouts of Kim Jong-un’s former sushi chef was finally cleared up on Tuesday – he’s been making lunch for the British ambassador to Pyongyang.

Media reports that Kenji Fujimoto may have been arrested by the North Korean authorities sparked alarm last month.

Mr Fujimoto served as personal chef to the Kim dynasty for 13 years when Kim Jong-un was a child, and had returned to the hermit kingdom in 2017 to open a sushi restaurant, Takahashi.

But in June, Japan’s Daily Shincho magazine reported that he had been detained, citing an intelligence official who suggested that the chef may have been seized for a “past betrayal.”

Mr Fujimoto has not been shy about his privileged insights into North Korea’s secretive ruling family, revealing intimate details about their dysfunctional home life, and disclosing information about motorboat races, glamourous parties and other aspects of their opulent lifestyle.

He described in a recent biography of Kim Jong-un - The Great Successor: The Secret Rise and Rule of Kim Jong Un – how the current leader had shown a ruthless streak even as a child, refusing to shake his hand in their first meeting and glaring with “sharp eyes” that seemed to say, “You abhorrent Japanese.”

The chef had previously spoken of his concerns that he may face the consequences of his “disloyalty” but had been reassured by a tearful reunion with Kim in 2013.

When fresh reports of the chef’s possible demise surfaced, Japan’s foreign ministry was unable to confirm his location, and said it was “analysing information.”

But on Tuesday, Colin Crooks, the British ambassador to North Korea, finally laid all rumours to rest when he tweeted pictures of the chef at work in his restaurant.

“Lunch today prepared by Master Chef #KenjiFujimoto at his #Pyongyang Japanese restaurant. Sashimi set was excellent,” he said.