North Korea's official media released Saturday photos of Kim Jong-un's latest appearance, after three weeks of absence and speculation about his health, but US President Donald Trump declined to comment on Kim's appearance, saying, "I prefer not to comment on that ... "We'll have what we say at the right time."
After speculation that the North Korean leader may have been ill or even died,
the North Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday that the 35-year-old leader opened a fertilizer plant in Suncheon, near the capital, Pyongyang, with the dignitaries and his sister Kim Yu Jung is one of his closest advisers.
"Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un cuts the opening tape for a fertilizer plant in Suncheon City (50 km) north of the capital, Pyongyang," the agency said.
She pointed out that Kim "attended the celebration" Friday, amid "loud cheers" from the participants of the ceremony and their applause, pointing out that he visited the factory as well, where he was "informed of the production process" in it.
In its 1500-word report, today, Saturday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency did not radicalize speculation about Kim's health.
The North Korean president has not appeared in public since he chaired the Labor Party political office meeting on
April 11 , and the next day the official media reported that he was inspecting fighter planes in an air defense unit.
Since a report was published in the South Korean-based Daily NK electronic newspaper in April that Kim had undergone heart surgery, in the wake of his apparent absence from some important events, Korean watchers have been questioning his fate.
Rumors have increased in recent days about Kim's health after his absence from the birthday celebrations of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung on April 15, which is the most prominent political event in the country.
The Special Adviser to the National Security of South Korean President Moon Jae-in confirmed that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, is "alive and in good health," reducing the seriousness of the rumors about his health.
In Washington, US President Donald Trump declined to comment on the North Korean News Agency report that Kim Jong Un appeared in public for the first time since April 11.