AKIPRESS.COM - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has an unspecified medical problem, state media report, after he failed to appear at a key political event.
A report on state television said on Thursday that Mr Kim, 31, was in an "uncomfortable physical condition" but gave no details, according to the media reports.

Earlier, the leader was absent from a session of the Supreme People's Assembly - North Korea's legislature.

Mr Kim has not been seen in public for more than three weeks.

His non-appearance at the SPA - to which he was elected in March with 100% of the vote - on Thursday prompted renewed speculation about the leader's whereabouts.

The report on state-run Central Television later in the day showed footage of the leader limping during one of his regular inspection tours back in July.

Kim made his last public appearance on 3 September, when he attended a concert given by the Moranbong Band - an all-girl musical troupe reputedly hand-picked by the leader himself.

State newspaper Rodong Sinmun showed Mr Kim sitting in comfortable front-row seats, alongside his wife Ri Sol-ju.

Previous appearances, the usual diet of factory and military unit inspections, show a clearly overweight Mr Kim walking with a limp and wearing generously cut trousers, possibly to disguise his walking difficulties.

South Korean newspaper Joongang Daily supports the leg injury theory, and suggests that his disappearance may be due to an injury picked up during some sort of sporting activity.