Kim Jong-un still out of public eye on 88th army anniversary, Reuters say medics sent to N. Korea

As the world awaits news on the whereabouts of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, much attention had been focused on the founding anniversary of the regime's armed forces today.

However, the North Korean leader still remained out of public sight.

Our Kim Mok-yeon has more details.

On Saturday, the 88th anniversary of the birth of the North Korean People's Revolutionary Army, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stayed out of public sight.

Amid rumors surrounding the health of the North Korean leader, there was much speculation if he would show up for the occasion.

But North Korean media outlets focused reporting on the anniversary and its background without mentioning the leader's whereabouts.

Also today, Reuters, quoting three anonymous sources familiar with the situation, reported that China had dispatched a team of medical personnel to North Korea to quote "advise on" Kim.

According to the report, the delegation, led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department, left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday.

The Chinese government has yet to confirm the news.

For the past week, the world has been awaiting news about Kim, as he remained out of public sight for the past two weeks, even on his grandfather Kim Il-sung's birthday on April 15th.

And with an earlier report from Daily NK, a South Korean news outlet focusing on North Korea issues, that Kim was receiving medical treatment after a cardiovascular procedure, and reports from CNN claiming that Kim could be in critical condition, speculation has been raised about the North Korean leader's health condition.

Pundits have pointed to Kim's heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems as possible sources of health problems.

However, the truth behind the North Korean leader's whereabouts remains to be seen as South Korea's Blue House claimed that there was no evidence to suggest Kim was sick, and that he appeared to be working as usual with close officials near the eastern province of Wonsan.



Reporter :