Kim Jong Un misses annual event

North Korea's Worker's Party celebrated its 69th anniversary on Friday, but notably without its biggest supporter: Kim Jong Un.

Since rising to power three years ago, Kim has marked the national holiday by visiting the Kumsusan palace mausoleum in Pyongyang, where his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and his father, Kim Jong Il, are both interred.

This year Kim's name did not appear on the guest list published by North Korea's state media. However, a flower arrangement in his name was reportedly lain at the statues of his predecessors.

The man seen as North Korea's number two, Hwang Pyong So, was reportedly in attendance.

Kim, who is thought to be 30 or 31 years old, last appeared in public on September 3 when he attended a concert alongside his wife. Speculation about his health had already been circulating since the summer after he was seen walking with a noticeable limp in July.

Last month, North Korea state media reported that he was "suffering discomfort." The rare comment about the dictator's health was broadcast in late September hours before a parliamentary session, which he also did not attend.

While his sudden absence has fed the rumor mills, South Korea's Unification Ministry spokeperson, Lim Byeong Cheol, reassured reporters on Friday that a delegation from North Korea had delivered greetings from the young dictator during a surprise visit to Seoul last week.

"So it appears it is being normally ruled by Kim Jong Un," ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol said.

Kim Jong Un rose to power three years ago after his father, Kim Jong Il, died of a heart attack. The young leader has maintained a high-profile in the North Korean media and has repeatedly attempted to exert his power by threatening to attack South Korea and the United States.

kms/lw (AP, AFP, Reuters)