North Korean leader absent during important event

Seoul, Oct 10 (IANS/EFE) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was absent Friday from a tribute to his father and his grandfather on the anniversary of the ruling Workers Party, fuelling speculation that Kim may be ill as he has not appeared in public in more than a month.

In a report on the event, state news agency KCNA did not include the name of the "Supreme Leader" in the list of authorities who visited the Kumsusan Sun Palace early Friday to pay tribute to the embalmed bodies of the two former leaders of the country, Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung.

The ceremony served to kickstart events to mark the 69th anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party, one of the most important dates on the North Korean political calendar.

Kim has not been seen at a public event since Sep 3.

During last year's anniversary celebrations, Kim offered his respects to the embalmed bodies of his grandfather and founder of the country, Kim Il-sung, and his father, Kim Jong-il, and placed flowers at the feet of their bronze statues.

Kim Jong-un's mysterious absence from public life has generated intense speculation about the state of his health as he is known to suffer from gout and other health problems although nothing more is known due to the regime's extreme secrecy.

Kim Jong-un, whose age is estimated to be around 30, appeared limping noticeably at a public event broadcast on North Korean television showing that he was suffering from a "malaise", although senior members of the regime later denied his health problems.

The Workers Party, one of the two pillars of this totalitarian state along with the Popular Army, was founded on this day in 1945 and has been governing North Korea since its founding in 1948.

--IANS/EFE

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