There were no images of Kim Jong-un on the founding day of the party.

North Korean media has not released any new images of Kim Jong-un on the anniversary of the founding of the party on October 10, fueling speculation about his health and power.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was warmly welcomed by military officials at a previous event. Photo: AFP.

As of 9:30 a.m. this morning, the KCNA news agency had not yet reported on the visit to the tombs of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, as has been customary for the past two years. North Korean state television also did not broadcast any new images of the young leader Kim Jong-un. Instead, it aired a documentary about the two deceased leaders, his grandfather and father, Reuters reported.

For the past two years, on the anniversaries of the founding of the Workers' Party of North Korea, Kim Jong-un has visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the remains of the two late Kim leaders are laid to rest, starting early in the morning. Last year, news of the visit and the commemorative activities was broadcast on television for four hours.

The front page of today's Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the Workers' Party of North Korea, only features images of Kim Jong-un's father and grandfather, along with an editorial praising the young leader. "The leadership system of the venerable Comrade Kim Jong-un will continue to be maintained," the newspaper wrote. "Comrade Kim Jong-un is a symbol of the dignity and invincibility of the Workers' Party, a banner of victory and glory."

Kim Jong-un's absence from many important events over the past month has fueled speculation about his health and the possibility of changes in the power structure in Pyongyang.

Video: Kim Jong-un limping in July

A source close to the North Korean leadership said yesterday that Kim Jong-un's leg was injured while he was inspecting military training in late August or early September.

"Kim Jong-un ordered all the army generals to participate in the exercises with him. They crawled, slithered, ran, and rolled, and then Kim suffered a ligament strain," the anonymous source said. "Kim's ankle and knee were injured during the drills because he was too heavy. Initially, he was just limping, but then the injuries became serious."

On September 25, for the first time in three years since taking power, Kim Jong-un was absent from a crucial parliamentary meeting. He needs approximately 100 days to recover, the source added.

"The longer Kim Jong-un is out of the public eye, the greater the uncertainty surrounding him will become," said Curtis Melvin, a researcher at the US-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies in Washington.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center) visits the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on July 27, commemorating the 61st anniversary of the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War. Photo: Reuters.

Source: VNE