Kim Jong-un reduced public activities because of coronavirus, says South Korea’s spy agency

The North Korean leader’s absence prompted speculation about his health, but Seoul says it does not appear that he had heart surgery

A new facility in Pyongyang is almost certainly linked to North Korea’s ballistic missile programme, says the US-based CSIS

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A woman wearing a face mask walks past a television news screen showing a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. South Korean officials believe he reduced his public activities because of Covid-19 fears. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:22pm, 6 May 2020Updated: 10:28pm, 6 May 2020

There are no signs North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received heart surgery when he disappeared from state media for three weeks, but he reduced public activity due to coronavirus concerns, South Korean lawmakers briefed by the spy agency said on Wednesday.

Kim attended the completion of a fertiliser plant, North Korea’s official media said on Saturday, the first report of his appearing in public since April 11.

His absence fuelled a flurry of speculation about his health and whereabouts, with a South Korean news outlet reporting Kim was recovering from a cardiovascular procedure while CNN said US officials were monitoring intelligence he was “in grave danger” after surgery.

People watch a TV showing an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: AP

Members of South Korea’s parliamentary intelligence committee said after a meeting with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) that the reports were “groundless”.

“The NIS assesses that at least he did not get any heart-related procedure or surgery,” committee member Kim Byung-kee told reporters. “He was normally performing his duties when he was out of the public eye … At least there’s no heart-related health problem.”