RESIDENTS in North Korea have been panic-buying amid speculation about the death of dictator Kim Jong-un, reports say.

The 36-year-old's disappearance from public view in recent weeks has fuelled questions about his health and sparked fears of a power struggle in the event of his death.

5 Residents in North Korea have been panic-buying amid reports of the death of dictator Kim Jong-un Credit: Reuters

5 There have been fears that the dictator's death could spark a power struggle in Pyongyang Credit: AFP or licensors

Shop shelves in capital Pyongyang have been emptied of essentials like food and detergent as well as electronics and alcohol, the Washington Post reported.

Products imported from abroad were reportedly the first things to go, but there has also been a run on items manufactured within North Korea like cigarettes and canned fish.

Low-flying helicopters have also been spotted over Pyongyang and disruption has been suffered on rail services into China, North Korea's only northerly neighbour, the Post reported.

Experts have warned that any power vacuum left by Kim could result in unrest or a civil war between rival power centres within the countries regime and military.

Fears of unrest are believed to have fuelled the panic-buying.

Questions first arose about his health on April 15 after he failed to attend The Day of the Sun, an important celebration to mark the birthday of Kim Il-Sung, his grandfather and the founder of the country.

He had last been spotted four days before that at a meeting with government officials.

Reports from South Korea suggested that Kim - who is overweight and has a history of diet-related illness - underwent heart surgery on April 12 and was seriously ill.

A Japanese newspaper yesterday said he was in a vegetative state, while one broadcast journalist in Hong Kong claimed to have been told by a "very solid source" that he had died.

NO CLEAR SUCCESSOR

South Korean government officials have consistently said their intelligence services had picked up "nothing to confirm" reports of his ill health, and today said that he is "alive and well".

Fears about unrest in the event of Kim's death have been fuelled by the lack of any clear line of succession.

His younger sister has been touted as the person most likely to replace him, though there are a number of other officials who could try to seize power.

There have also been concerns about the impact that coronavirus may or may not be having within the country, with little information about cases number having emerged so far.

North Korea has long had a problem with widespread malnourishment and the security of its food supply.

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Between 1994 and 1998, up to 3.5million people are thought to have died in a famine now known as the Arduous March.

A UN report last year estimated that 43 percent of the county's 25million people are malnourished.

5 The leader failed to attend The Day of the Sun, an important celebration to mark the birthday of Kim Il-Sung, his grandfather and the founder of the country Credit: AFP or licensors

5 Students get their temperatures checked as part of coronavirus precautions at Kim Chaek University of Technology in Pyongyang Credit: AP:Associated Press

5 Kim is overweight and known to have a number of health issues Credit: Reuters