North Korea's Kim Jong-un makes first appearance in nearly three weeks, reports local media

Kim Jong-un has made his first public appearance in weeks, say North Korean media, ending rumours about the leader's health.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on 2 March.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on 2 March. Source: KCNA via KNS

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made his first public appearance since speculation about his health began in March, cutting the ribbon at the opening of a fertiliser factory.

Mr Kim "attended the ceremony" on Friday and "all the participants broke into thunderous cheers of 'hurrah!'" when he appeared, the Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday.

He also inspected the facility and was "briefed about the production processes", the report said.

Mr Kim "said with deep emotion" that his grandfather Kim Il-sung and father Kim Jong-il "would be greatly pleased if they heard the news that the modern phosphatic fertiliser factory has been built", KCNA added.

Mr Kim has not made a public appearance since presiding over a Workers' Party politburo meeting on 11 April, and the following day state media reported on him inspecting fighter jets at an air defence unit.
A file photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
A file photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Source: KCNA via KNS
Conjecture over his health had grown since his conspicuous no-show at 15 April celebrations for the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il-sung, the North's founder - the most important day in the country's political calendar.

A top security advisor to South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said less than a week ago that Mr Kim was "alive and well," downplaying rumours that he was ill or incapacitated.

The advisor, Moon Chung-in, told CNN that Mr Kim had been staying in Wonsan - a resort town in the east of North Korea - since 13 April, adding: "No suspicious movements have so far been detected."

Daily NK, an online media outlet run mostly by North Korean defectors, has reported Mr Kim was undergoing treatment after a cardiovascular procedure in March.
Citing an unidentified source inside the country, it said Mr Kim, who is in his mid-30s, had needed urgent treatment due to heavy smoking, obesity and fatigue.

Soon afterwards, CNN reported that Washington was "monitoring intelligence" that Mr Kim was in "grave danger" after undergoing surgery, quoting what it said was an anonymous US official.

US President Donald Trump appeared to confirm that Mr Kim was alive earlier this week.

Mr Trump refused to comment Friday on Mr Kim's reported re-emergence.

Previous absences from the public eye on Mr Kim's part have prompted speculation about his health.
The North is extremely secretive, and doubly so about its leadership. 

Mr Kim's father and predecessor Kim Jong-il had been dead for two days before anyone outside the innermost circles of North Korean leadership was any the wiser.

In 2014, Kim Jong-un dropped out of sight for nearly six weeks before reappearing with a cane. 

Days later, the South's spy agency said he had undergone surgery to remove a cyst from his ankle.


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3 min read
Published 2 May 2020 8:18am
Source: AFP, SBS



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