Per Yonhap: "South Korea's spy agency...>

NORTH KOREA: Per Yonhap: "South Korea's spy agency denied rumors about North

Korean leader Kim Jong-un's illness and ensuing surgery in a parliamentary

committee Wednesday. Kim's absence from an annual event marking the April 15

birth anniversary of his late grandfather and national founder Kim Il-sung had

spawned speculation that he might be seriously ill. Pyongyang's media, however,

reported Saturday that Kim attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a fertilizer

factory. It carried photos of him smiling and talking to officials. The spy

agency also told lawmakers that Kim has appeared in public 17 times so far this

year, marking the fewest compared with other years, according to Rep. Kim

Byung-kee of the ruling Democratic Party. This is also 66 percent less than the

average 50 public appearances in the same time during this period of the year,

it added. The spy agency, however, said the fewer appearances are probably due

to Kim focusing on domestic affairs and the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak."