The 36-year-old ruler appeared publicly on the 11^th of April amidst the speculations of his poor health, as well as who would subsequently rule over the nuclear-armed hermetic country in the event that he was declared dead. Days later Kim Jong-un missed the country’s biggest state celebrations which were held on the 15^th of April marking his grandfathers’ birthday, Kim II-sung, the founder of the North Country.

The subsequent rumors stated that he received a botched heart-valve during a surgery or contracted COVID-19, and was in a “vegetative state” or in “grave danger.” Some other news reported that doctors from China were sent to Pyongyang to offer their medical expertise.

On Saturday, after the initial reports, pictures surfaced from the North Korean news agency that showed Kim Jong-un smiling during a new fertilizer factory opening. The news agency said, “the participants who attended the event burst into tremulous cheers of ‘hurrah.'” Kim Jong-un is said to have acknowledged the company’s builders as he toured the factory accompanied by the ruling Workers’ Party senior officials, including Kim Yo-jong, his sister.

The South Korea government was reluctant to comment on the report immediately, but it pushed back its previous speculation of the leader’s poor health condition. Unification minister, Kim Yeon-Chul, called the reports “fake news” and went on to say that South Korea says “confidently” that the rumors lack evidence.

In 2014, Kim Jong-un had also disappeared for almost a month prompting rumors of a coup until he later resurfaced in the North Korean media which showed him walking while holding a cane. South Korean intelligence reported that he had undergone ankle surgery.

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