North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cut the tape of the opening of a fertilizer plant, according to the North Korean Central News Agency, in his first appearance on official media since there was speculation about his health last month.
The agency said that Kim "attended the celebration" on Friday, as the participants cheered and applauded.
Kim has not appeared in public since he chaired the meeting of the political office of the ruling Labor Party on April 11, and the next day the official media reported that he inspected fighter planes in an air defense unit and released photos of him without specifying their date.
There was speculation about his health when he missed the ceremony marking the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, on April 15.
In the aftermath, the "Daily In Kai" website - which is run by opposition North Koreans - said that the North Korean leader had undergone surgery because of suffering from problems in the arteries of the heart, and that he was recovering in the North Pionghan County.
And in recent days, the "38 North" North Korean research center based in Washington has released satellite imagery showing a special train likely to belong to the North Korean leader at a resort within the country, amid conflicting reports about Kim's health and location.
According to press reports, China has sent a team to North Korea that includes medical experts to advise on Kim.
Trump refuses to comment
on the other hand, US President Donald Trump declined to comment on the news of Kim's appearance, and told reporters at the White House Friday: "I prefer not to comment on that at the moment, we will have what we say in this regard at the appropriate time."
Trump had previously said that information related to Kim's poor health was "probably wrong", but he declined to say whether he was in contact with North Korean officials.
South Korean officials also called for caution about speculation related to Kim's health, and Moon Ji-in, the national security adviser to the South Korean President, told CNN that the Seoul government’s position was firm, that the North Korean leader is still alive, and he is in good health. , Adding that Kim has been staying in the Winson area since April 13, and that his country's authorities have not detected any suspicious movements so far in the northern neighbor.