Kim Jong Un is back, seen in public after 20 days
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North Korea leader Kim Jong Un on Friday made his first public appearance in 20 days, state media reported on Saturday, putting to rest all speculations of his death. His previous appearance took place on April 12. After media reports about Kim's surgery, some news outlets reported about the leader's death.
The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony of a phosphatic fertilizer factory on Friday. He was joined by his sister Kim Yo Jong as well as other senior officials, it added.
"A completion ceremony of the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory, which has been built as the production base of fertilizer, was splendidly held on May Day, the international holiday of the working people of the whole world", the report said.
However, the agency provided no photographs of the event which could confirm Kim's presence.
Speculation about Mr Kim's health began after he missed the birth anniversary celebrations of his grandfather, state founder Kim Il Sung on 15 April.
The anniversary is one of the biggest events in the North Korean calendar, and Mr Kim usually marks it by visiting the mausoleum where his grandfather lies. Mr Kim had never missed this event.
Claims about Mr Kim's ill-health then surfaced in a report for a website run by North Korean defectors.
