The North Korean leader was said to visit a factory on Friday, after a series of unfounded news reports indicated that he was suffering from a serious illness .
SEOUL , South Korea - North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un , appeared again to public opinion on Friday , North Korea's official media reported on Saturday , sparking controversy over three weeks of rumors and unconfirmed news reports that he was in serious danger after Undergoing heart surgery .
North Korea News Agency said it appeared at a ceremony at a factory in Suncheon City , and later posted photos of the event . It was not immediately possible to independently confirm the report .
Mr. Kim, 36, had last appeared publicly on April 11. Speculation about his health — and about who would take over the hermetic, nuclear-armed country should he become incapacitated or die — began swirling after Mr. Kim missed the state celebrations of his country’s biggest holiday on April 15. On that day, the North marks the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il-sung, the country`s founder .
Rumors subsequently went into overdrive, claiming that Mr. Kim was “in grave danger,” in a “vegetative state” after botched heart-valve surgery, or in quarantine after contracting Covid-19. Other reports said that China had sent doctors to Pyongyang to save him.
After its initial report on Saturday, the North Korean News Agency released pictures showing Mr Kim's smile clapping, cutting the tape and standing with his hands behind his back in a new fertilizer plant.
“All the participants again burst into thunderous cheers of ‘hurrah,’” the news agency said, taking its characteristically fulsome tone for coverage of the leader. It said that Mr. Kim “warmly acknowledged the builders and masses raising thunderous cheers” and went on to tour the factory, accompanied by senior officials from the ruling Workers’ Party, including his only sister, Kim Yo-jong.
Although the external media apparently were not allowed to watch the ceremony, the official North Korean Central News Agency report followed a familiar pattern. Official media usually report that Kim appeared publicly after a day of their occurrence, and carry photos of the scene as well.
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