Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has shared his reaction to the reappearance of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Retweeting photos from North Korean state media showing Kim at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory, Trump wrote, “I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well!”
I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2020
This marked Kim’s first public appearance in approximately three weeks, following intense speculation about his health when he did not attend his late grandfather’s birthday celebration on April 15th.
During this period, there were reports suggesting that he had undergone life-saving heart surgery, which was either not performed rapidly enough or was botched by the surgeon.
According to the KCNA news agency, Mr. Kim cut the ribbon at the opening of the fertilizer factory and was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from the crowds in attendance.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) also reported that Mr. Kim was accompanied by several senior North Korean officials, including his sister Kim Yo-jong.
At the plant’s opening ceremony, a region north of Pyongyang, attendees “burst into thunderous cheers of ‘hurrah!’ for the Supreme Leader who is commanding the all-people general march for accomplishing the great cause of prosperity,” as stated by KCNA.