Kim Jong-un ‘pictured in public for first time in 20 days’ after rumours he was dead or incapacitated

KIM Jong-un appeared in public for the first time in 20 days yesterday, state media reported, after rumours he had died spread around the world.

The North Korean leader, 36, was seen cutting a ribbon and speaking to officials at the completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Plant, the Korean Central News Agency reports.

The despot had last been seen in public on April 11 sparking reports he was gravely ill or dead after a botched heart operation.

Speculation over the welfare of Kim has been mounting for days but the rogue state had not broken its silence.

Yesterday, he appeared alongside his sister Kim Yo-jong, who had been tipped to succeed him, at the fertilizer plant, the pictures show.

According to the KCNA report, the dictator made a short speech after inaugurating the facility.

He said: “When the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing Plant goes into operation, it will represent a historical development in our country's fertilizer industry, it will be a glorious revolution and a splendid display of our nation's great economic potential, and it will be an uplifting banner that assures us of the achievements of our country's general economic frontline.”

The report said that Kim "expressed satisfaction about the wonderful creation" and congratulated workers from Kim Chaek University of Technology, "repeatedly stressing that talents are a great source and a motive power of the development of the country."

This is not the first time Kim has vanished from public and then reappeared.

In February, he disappeared for nearly three weeks without any speculation surrounding his health.

And in 2014, he vanished for 40 days, sparking rumours he had been ousted in a coup, only to reemerge with a walking stick after apparently recovering from an illness or an operation.

The rumours surrounding his health:

• Initial reports from South Korea claimed Kim was in a vegetative state after suffering a heart attack
• However a North Korean defector claims the tyrant was in fact injured during a missile test
• South Korea later insisted he is in fact 'alive and well'
• In the West a top US Senator claimed Kim was ‘likely dead or incapacitated’
• But President Trump dismissed dismissed the report calling it 'fake news'
• Rumours previously ran wild when Kim disappeared for a month in 2014 - reportedly having suffered a bout of gout

Concern over his health began when he failed to appear at an important celebration on April 15, to mark the birthday of Kim Il-sung, his grandfather and the founder of the country.

There were also claims that he may have been seriously injured during one of his military's controversial missile tests.

But in an effort to contradict the whispers of his death a state-run newspaper reported Kim sent a personal letter to builders working on a tourism project in Wonsan on the east coast of the country.

Continuing the rumours, a Chinese journalist Shijian Xingzou said a “very solid source” told her the North Korean leader had died.

Separately, a Japanese media outlet claimed Kim was in a “vegetative state” after undergoing heart surgery.

Last week, China reportedly  to North Korea to check on the leader's health.

However South Korean president Moon Jae-in's foreign policy advisor Chung-in Moon has said they believe Kim has been staying in Wonsan since April 13 - with "no suspicious movements".

South Korea's minister for North Korean affairs said he believed Kim has not been seen because he is dodging the coronavirus.

Kim Yeon-chul said at a parliamentary hearing: "It is true that he had never missed the anniversary for Kim Il-sung’s birthday since he took power, but many anniversary events including celebrations and a banquet had been cancelled because of coronavirus concerns."

He said there were at least two instances since mid-January where Kim went missing for nearly 20 days.

He added: "I don’t think that’s particularly unusual given the current (coronavirus) situation."

Yesterday Donald Trump suggested he knew what had happened to Kim, hinting he was unwell as he said he hoped "everything will be fine".

The US President said: “Kim Jong-un? I can’t tell you exactly. Yes, I do have a very good idea, but I can’t talk about it now.

“I just wish him well.”

A former CIA analyst revealed even the chosen few normally allowed to get close to Kim probably have no idea where he is, let alone whether he has died.

The secretive way North Korea operates severely restricts the flow of information related to its top leaders - especially Kim.