NORTH KOREA’S leader Kim Jong Un has given field guidance to a newly built residential district, the official KCNA news agency reported yesterday, his first public appearance in 40 days.

    Kim has not been seen in public since he watched the performance of the Moranbong Band with his wife Ri Sol Ju on Sept. 3. His longest absence from public events since he took power has drawn the world’s attention and fueled speculations about his health.

    The KCNA reported that Kim expressed satisfaction about the construction of the new district. Kim also visited the newly built Natural Energy Institute of the State Academy of Sciences on the same day, it said, without giving the exact date he made the visits.

    On Sept. 25, Kim did not show up at the second session of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the country’s top legislative body.

    Kim was also absent at a national meeting Oct. 7 to mark the 17th anniversary of former top leader Kim Jong Il’s election as general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK). On Friday, Kim did not appear at a commemorative ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of the founding of WPK at the Palace of the Sun in Kumsusan.

    (Xinhua)