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(Image: REUTERS/GETTY)

He vanished from state media on October 7, when he was shown visiting a Pyongyang souvenir factory.

And he didn't resurface until yesterday, when he was photographed visiting a new eye hospital.

With no explanation offered for his absence, it's now being claimed he was in a car crash.

(Image: RODONG SINMUN)

His disappearance meant he missed a celebration marking the anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.

Protocol dictates he should have visited the mausoleum that houses his father and grandfather to pay his respects.

Nor was he present for the 70th anniversary ceremony honouring the anti-imperialist group formed by grandfather, Kim Il-sung.

A South Korean government source told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper that rumours of an accident remained unconfirmed.

They said: "There were rumours that Kim was involved in a traffic accident while driving his own car.

"Considering how tightly information is controlled in the North, we are closely monitoring Kim's whereabouts."

It's also speculated that the leader went into hiding while the US and South Korea conducted joint military drills.

Kim has disappeared before, vanishing from the public eye for 46 days in 2014, apparently to deal with gout or arthritis.

(Image: RODONG SINMUN)

Intelligence officials in the South also said that the leader was recovering from an operation to remove a cyst on his right ankle.

The cause of his alleged health woes is unconfirmed, but his weight is believed to be a dangerously-high 20 stone.

Already known for his big appetite, Kim Jong-un was this year rumoured to drink 10 bottles of wine a day.

He appears to support his own weight in the new, carefully-staged photos of his visit to Ryugyong General Ophthalmic Hospital.

North Korean state media said he was "pleased to picture the people enjoying the benefits of the socialist healthcare system to the full."

It's unclear when the photos were taken, but earlier photos of Kim visiting the hospital during construction were released in May.