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Coronavirus: No mention of COVID-19 as Kim Jong Un chairs Politburo meeting

The meeting comes a month after Mr Kim emerged from some time out of the spotlight, leading some to speculate about his health.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un takes part in the 13th Political Bureau meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Image: Kim Jong Un did not wear a face mark during the meeting
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A smiling Kim Jong Un has been pictured at the Politburo of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party.

A series of images show the leader sitting at a large round table, flanked by veteran aides Choe Ryong Hae and Pak Pong Ju.

Neither Mr Kim or any of the other officials were wearing masks - and the virus pandemic was not mentioned in the state media report about the meeting.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un takes part in the 13th Political Bureau meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un takes part in the 13th Political Bureau meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Image: The virus pandemic was not mentioned in the state media report about the meeting

Instead, "the meeting discussed in depth some crucial issues arising in further developing the self-sufficient economy of the country and improving the standard of people's living".

The latest images come just weeks after Mr Kim attended the completion of a fertiliser plant in a region north of Pyongyang, the country's capital city.

It was the first time he had been seen since 11 April - an absence which had led many to speculate he was gravely ill after surgery.

There were questions about his health after he missed the anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung on 15 April.

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This is a major holiday in North Korea and he would usually visit the mausoleum where his grandfather lies in state.

While North Korea says it has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus, South Korea's main intelligence agency has said an outbreak there cannot be ruled out.