North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects inside a machinery factory in the country's Jagang Province, according to the Korean Central News Agency, Saturday. Yonhap
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected machinery factories and other economic facilities in Jagang Province bordering China, in his first public outing in more than three weeks, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday.
Since Kim oversaw the launch of short-range missiles, May 9, he has not appeared in the North's state media, sparking rumors that he could be suffering from some health problem, such as diabetes or hypertension.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that he inspected the Kanggye General Tractor Plant, Kanggye General Precision Machine Plant, Jangjagang Machine Tool Factory and the February 8 General Machine Factory. They are key defense facilities.
At the Kanggye General Tractor Plant, Kim expressed his appreciation for workers "having produced highly efficient machinery and equipment conducive to the national economy and the strengthening of defense capabilities," according to the KCNA.
