Kim Jong-un sends Xi Jinping ‘warm greetings’ over China’s coronavirus success

North Korean state media says leader sent ‘verbal message’, though it is not clear if he and Chinese president spoke directly

Pyongyang also lashed out at Seoul over South Korea’s recent military exercises

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends an event at a fertiliser plant north of Pyongyang on May 2. Photo: KCNA via Reuters

Published: 6:39am, 8 May 2020Updated: 10:40am, 8 May 2020

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has sent a “verbal message” to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, state media KCNA reported on Friday, after weeks of speculation about his health.

The news agency did not explain what it meant by a “verbal message,” and it was not clear if Kim and Xi had spoken directly.

The message was “in connection with the fact that China is registering success in preventing the Covid-19 infection”, according to KCNA, with Kim extending his “warm greetings” to Xi.

Rumours about Kim’s health have been swirling since his conspicuous no-show at April 15 celebrations for the birthday of his grandfather, the North’s founder – the most important day in the country’s political calendar.

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He was absent for weeks before reappearing on May 2 at a factory opening.

Kim’s temporary disappearance triggered a series of fevered rumours and unconfirmed reports over his condition, while the United States and South Korea insisted they had no information to believe any of the conjecture was true.

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