Kim Jong-Un Missing Due To 'Pulled Tendon'

Kim Jong-Un has missed celebrations of the anniversary of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, with one source suggesting he hurt himself taking part in a military drill.

Mr Kim has not been seen in public for over a month, leading to reports he was suffering from broken ankles , gout or diabetes.

His disappearance from public life - the longest since he came to power in 2011 - even sparked rumours he had been forced from power in a coup.

North Korean state media, which usually slavishly follows the leader's ever move on official visits, did not list Mr Kim among officials who made the annual pilgrimage to the mausoleum in Pyongyang housing the remains of his father and grandfather.

Instead, a floral tribute with his name on it was presented to the two statues of Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-Sung in the Kumsusan Palace mausoleum.

Reuters news agency quoted a source inside North Korea saying Mr Kim was still in firm control of his government, but had hurt his leg taking part in a military drill.

"He ordered all the generals to take part in drills and he took part too. They were crawling and running and rolling around, and he pulled a tendon," the source said on condition of anonymity.

"He injured his ankle and knee around late August or early September while drilling because he is overweight.

"He limped around in the beginning, but the injury worsened."

State television said last month that Mr Kim had an "uncomfortable physical condition". He was seen walking with a limp and appeared more overweight than usual.

North Korea strictly controls information about its government, so much of what happens in Pyongyang remains unknown by outsiders as well as North Koreans.

But South Korea said Mr Kim appeared to remain in control of key affairs.

"It seems that Kim Jong-Un's rule is in normal operation," Unification Ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol was quoted by the Yonhap news agency as saying.

"With regard to his specific health conditions, our government has no information to confirm yet."

Mr Lim noted that a high-level North Korean delegation conveyed a greetings message to South Korean President Park Geun-hye during a surprise visit to South Korea last week.

Meanwhile, the North fired into the South after a group of activists sent up balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets.

The South Korean military returned fire across the border, according to the Yonhap news agency.