Hours ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appeared at a fertilizer factory north of Pyongyang, following weeks of ambiguity over his health and no word spelled over his whereabouts via state media.
The state media reported on his visit and published photos which, however, have not entirely ruled out speculations about his health.
A news broadcast by the North Korean state radio said that Kim cut the ribbon on a fertilizer plant in Sunchon, in South Phyongan Province, on Friday. He was accompanied by his sister Kim Yo-jong and several other officials.
The Sunchon event was also reported by the state news agency KCNA, and by South Korea’s news agency Yonhap, who said it “contradicted rumors” about Kim’s health.
KCNA later posted photos from the event provided, showing a smiling Kim cutting the ribbon at the facility and touring the plant with local officials. None wore face masks. A wide shot of the ceremony showed workers wearing masks but lined up in a tight formation, with no ‘social distancing’.
Speculation about Kim’s health first arose due to his absence from the anniversary of the birthday of North Korea’s founding father and Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15.
Days later, the Seoul-based Daily NK website reported that Kim was recovering after he underwent a heart surgery on April 12. The website published the report, citing an unnamed North Korean source.
This prompted a number of US media outlets to speculate that Kim might have died, before some satellite images reviewed by a Washington-based research center focusing on North Korea showed a special train, possibly belonging to the communist leader Kim Jong-un, spotted at a resort last week.
Mean while, US President Donald Trump declined to comment on the report of the first public appearance of Kim in weeks, saying: "I prefer not to comment on that ... We will have something to say about that in due course," Trump told reporters at the White House.
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