SEOUL (Reuters) – After weeks of extreme speculation about the health of Kim Jong Un, state news firm KCNA stated on Saturday the North Korean leader attended the completion of a fertilizer plant north of Pyongyang, the first report of his appearance since April11
Reuters could not independently validate the KCNA report.
KCNA stated Kim cut a ribbon at the event on Friday and those going to the occasion “burst into thunderous cheers of ‘hurrah!’ for the Supreme Leader who is commanding the all-people general march for achieving the great reason for success.”
Kim was seen in pictures smiling and talking with aides at the ribbon-cutting event and likewise visiting the plant. The authenticity of the pictures, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun paper, might not be validated.
Asked about the KCNA report, U.S. President Donald Trump said: “I ‘d rather not comment on it yet.”
” We’ll have something to say about it at the proper time,” he told reporters at the White House.
Speculation about Kim’s health has actually been rife after he missed out on the birth anniversary celebrations of state founder Kim Il Sung on April15 The day is a significant vacation in North Korea and Kim as leader usually pays a visit to the mausoleum where his grandfather lies in state.
He last made a public