金正恩拄拐在国家媒体上露面

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance in more than 40 days, resurfacing in state media photos carrying a cane.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday Mr. Kim visited a residential district and a science institute where he gave "field guidance," a regular routine for the young leader.

KCNA, along with the country\'s main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, published several photos of a smiling Mr. Kim leaning on a black cane, which he held in his left hand.

The reports did not say when the photos were taken. They also did not mention Mr. Kim\'s prolonged absence or explain why he was carrying the cane.

The disappearance of Mr. Kim, regarded by many North Koreans as a near divine figure, prompted global speculation he was suffering a serious health or political problem.

Lim Jae-chun, a North Korean studies professor at Korea University, tells VOA that Pyongyang may have released the photos in response to the rumors.

The North Korean leader, believed to be 31 years of age, succeeded his father Kim Jong Il in 2011. He had last been seen September 3 at a concert by his favorite pop group, the Moranbong Band, a group consisting of five young women, all hand-picked by Mr. Kim.

He then missed several high-profile political events, including a meeting of the country\'s ceremonial parliament in late September and last Friday\'s anniversary of the ruling Korean Worker\'s Party.

朝鲜官方的朝中社星期二报道说，金正恩视察了一个居民住宅区和一个研究院，并在场亲临指导。金正恩经常到各地视察指导。

朝中社和朝鲜主要报纸《劳动新闻》刊登了几张金正恩的照片。金正恩在照片中微笑，左手拄着一把黑色拐杖。

报道没有说明照片是何时拍摄的，也没有提及金正恩长期没有露面和他为什么手拄拐杖。

被朝鲜大多数人近乎神化的金正恩从媒体消失后国际社会推测他可能患重病或者朝鲜政局出现问题动荡。

韩国高丽大学朝鲜研究教授林载淳对美国之音表示，平壤公布这些照片可能就是为了回应这些传言。

金正恩2011年接替他的父亲金正日成为朝鲜领导人。据信他的年龄在31岁。他上一次露面是9月3日观看他最喜欢的牡丹峰乐团演出。该乐团有五位年轻女性组成，全部是金正恩亲手挑选的。

金正恩随后缺席了几次重要的政治活动，包括9月末朝鲜无实权的第13届朝鲜最高人民会议第二次会议和上周五的朝鲜劳动党建党周年活动。