North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim cut the tape at the ceremony marking the completion of Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory in Sunchon, north of Pyongyang, on Friday, reports the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency.
Photos released by KCNA showed Kim, dressed in a dark Mao suit, cutting the red ribbon during the ceremony and talking to accompanying officials with a smile on his face.
"When the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing Plant goes into operation, it will represent a historical development in our country's fertilizer industry, it will be a glorious revolution and a splendid display of our nation's great economic potential, and it will be an uplifting banner that assures us of the achievements of our country's general economic frontline," Kim said, according to the KCNA report. Kim was also quoted as expressing "satisfaction about the wonderful creation" and "set forth the tasks and ways for developing our chemical industry in the correct orientation as required by the new century".
Accompanying Kim were his sister Kim Yo-jong, Pak Pong-ju, vice chairman of the WKP's Central Committee, Premier Kim Jae-ryong, and other senior officials, according to KCNA. No. 2 leader Choe Ryong-hae was not among the attendees.
For almost 3 weeks Kim Jong-un did not appear in public, which led to many speculations regarding his health. Rumours included him being in a coma after botched heart surgery. South Korean Intelligence, however, rejected the rumours, stating that no unusual activities were reported from the neighbouring country. It is not rare for Kim Jong-un to disappear from public view, reports Yonhap News Agency, a South Korean news agency.
The latest absence marked the third time this year alone that he has not appeared in public for more than 10 days. His longest absence from public view was in September 2014, when he disappeared for about 40 days and returned with a cane and limping. Seoul's intelligence agency later said that he had a cyst removed from his ankle. Kim Jong-un is known to have health problems apparently linked to obesity and heavy smoking. His prolonged absence from public view has often spawned rumours about the deterioration in his health.