Kim Jong-un's Public Appearance After 20 Days... 'Health Rumors' Unfounded

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Dong-pyo] North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un resumed public activities after 20 days, demonstrating his vitality. This marks the first time Chairman Kim has appeared publicly since presiding over a Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting at the Central Committee headquarters in Pyongyang on the 11th of last month.

According to Korean Central Broadcasting on the 2nd, Chairman Kim attended the completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Factory on the previous day, which was Labor Day (May 1). The ceremony was attended by Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers' Party and Kim Jong-un's younger sister, Premier Kim Jae-ryong, Party Vice Chairmen Pak Pong-ju, Kim Tok-hun, and Pak Tae-song, as well as Party First Deputy Director Jo Yong-won, the broadcast reported.

The Suncheon Fertilizer Factory was the first local guidance site Chairman Kim visited this year, on January 7 (based on the report date). After paying respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun as his first schedule of the new year, he visited the Suncheon Fertilizer Factory five days later, expressing his determination to independently overcome the prolonged sanctions in the economic sector.

Subsequently, the three key figures of North Korea?Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly and First Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission; Pak Pong-ju, Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party; and Premier Kim Jae-ryong?visited the factory in succession, demonstrating its status as a priority project for North Korea.

Korean Central Broadcasting stated, "The completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Factory, which has splendidly risen as a Juche fertilizer production base, was grandly held on May 1, the international holiday of workers worldwide," and "Our Party and State's supreme leader, Comrade Kim Jong-un, who is the Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, attended the completion ceremony."

The broadcast also said, "Amid the sound of welcoming music, the respected Supreme Leader Comrade Kim Jong-un appeared at the ceremony and personally cut the completion tape."

Chairman Kim toured the completed factory and said, "How delighted the great leader and the great general, who devoted tremendous efforts to solving the people's food and eating problems, would be to hear the report that a modern fertilizer factory has been established."

He continued, "Now our agricultural workers can wholeheartedly focus on capturing the grain highlands set by the Party," and praised the participants in the construction, saying, "The Suncheon Fertilizer Factory is a proud fruit created by absolute followers of the Party's policy through the united strength of the army and the people."

The broadcast described the atmosphere on-site, stating, "All participants gave the highest glory to the respected Supreme Leader Comrade Kim Jong-un, who brought about a new turning point in the development of Juche fertilizer industry with outstanding leadership and led the revolutionary march to strengthen the self-reliant economy to victory, and erupted in a storm of cheers."

As the atmosphere heated up, Chairman Kim warmly waved his hand in response to the enthusiastic cheers from the builders and the crowd, the broadcast also reported.

Pak Pong-ju, Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, encouraged in his completion speech, "Let us firmly unite around the Supreme Leader Comrade Kim Jong-un and vigorously advance with the firm confidence of victory for the prosperous development of the socialist homeland."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.