Overweight Kim Jong-un injured his ankle and knee, says N Korean source
Leader may make his first appearance in more than a month, ending speculation about his fate
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who could make his first appearance in more than a month today as the nation marks its 69th anniversary, injured his ankle and knee because he's overweight but is still in charge of the country, a source close to him said.
Kim's absence from the public eye, along with suggestions in the North Korean media that he might be ill, has sparked rumours abroad that all is not well in the secretive country.
Kim, 31, was last was seen in public attending a concert on September 3. Before that, he had been shown walking with a limp.
The leader's absence from today's event marking the founding of the ruling Korean Workers' Party would not in itself be all that unusual. Such anniversaries are generally given more weight when they are landmark years, although he attended the celebrations in the last two years.
Last night, a source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing and direct access to the top levels of both governments, did not give any indication as to whether Kim would appear, but did shed light on his limp.
"Kim Jong-un is in total control. There is no split in the top leadership," he said. "He injured his ankle and knee around late August or early September ... because he is overweight. He limped around in the beginning but the injury worsened."
