North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made his first public appearance in around 20-days following speculation the dictator had died. The country's state news agency KCNA said on Saturday

the dictator attended the completion of a fertilizer plant in a region north of the capital, Pyongyang, in the first report of his public activity since April 11.  They reported the despot

cut the ribbon at the opening, with pictures of the leader being released and shown on South Korean TV. Kim "attended the ceremony" on Friday and "all participants broke into

thunderous cheers of hurrah!" when he appeared, the Korean Central News Agency said.  He was accompanied by several senior North Korean officials, including his younger sister Kim Yo

visit to the mausoleum where his grandfather lies in state. READ MORE: KIM JONG-UN'S SISTER 'FACES HUGE CHALLENGES IF SHE SUCCEEDS HIM'   Speculation over the welfare of the

North Korean leader begun after sources claimed Kim had undergone cardiovascular surgery. Some sources claimed there had been complications during surgery after he missed the celebration.

Moreover, a recent viral image that supposedly showed Kim Jong-un dead in a glass coffin set off the rumours once again. The image appeared to show Kim lying in state beneath a red blanket

with his head on a pillow. There were also rumours that he may have been seriously injured during one of his military's controversial missile tests. A former official with links to the

Workers’ Party of North Korea reportedly encouraged this speculation. READ MORE: HOW KIM JONG-UN'S BROTHER WARNED 'HE WON'T LAST' Separately, a Japanese media outlet

claimed Kim was in a “vegetative state” after undergoing heart surgery. However South Korean president Moon Jae-in's foreign policy advisor Chung-in Moon has said they believe Kim has

been staying in Wonsan since April 13 - with "no suspicious movements". Kim Yeon-chul, unification minister for South Korea, commented: "It is true that he had never missed

the anniversary for Kim Il Sung’s birthday since he took power, but many anniversary events including celebrations and a banquet had been cancelled because of coronavirus concerns." He

said there were at least two instances since mid-January where Kim went missing for nearly 20 days. The Minister added: "I don’t think that’s particularly unusual given the current

(coronavirus) situation."  US President Donald Trump recently suggested he knew about the welfare of Kim. However, the president added he couldn't give much away. The president

hinted the North Korean is unwell as he said he hoped "everything will be fine". The president said: “Kim Jong Un? I can’t tell you exactly. "Yes, I do have a very good idea,

but I can’t talk about it now. “I just wish him well.”