North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a military drill at an undisclosed location in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyangon Oct. 24, 2014KCNA/Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un apparently underwent ankle surgery in either September or October, according to a report Tuesday, which may finally explain his recent six-week disappearance.
Kim wasn’t seen in public between Sept. 3 and Oct. 14, the Associated Press reports, an unusually long absence that led many outside the reclusive country to speculate whether he was sick or had even been thrown from power. When Kim finally returned to public view, he appeared to have lost weight and was using a cane.
South Korea’s intelligence agency reportedly learned of the leader’s surgery — a foreign doctor was said to have removed a cyst from Kim’s right ankle and warned it could return due to his weight, busy schedule and smoking habit — and told lawmakers in a closed-door meeting.
PHOTOS: This is how North Korea's government wants you to see Kim Jong Un
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (3rd L) and his wife Ri Sol-ju (2nd L) look on during a visit to Unit 1017 of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Air and Anti-Air Force, honoured with the title of O Jung Hup-led 7th Regiment, in this undated picture released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on June 21, 2013. KCNA—REUTERSThis undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 7, 2014 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) being celebrated by soldiers as he inspects the defense detachment on Ung Islet, defending an outpost in the East Sea of Korea. KNS—AFP/Getty ImagesNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Mangyongdae Revolutionary School on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Children's Union (KCU) in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang June 7, 2014. KCNA—REUTERSNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un looks through a pair of binoculars during an inspection of the Hwa Islet Defence Detachment standing guard over a forward post off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on July 1, 2014. KCNA—REUTERSThis undated picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 19, 2014 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) meeting with children at a baby home and orphanage as he visits the Taesongsan General Hospital in Pyongyang. KNS—AFP/Getty ImagesThis photo taken on July 27, 2014 and released on July 28, 2014 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows service personnel of North Korean Army salute to a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un clad in marshal unform at the plaza of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, the 61st anniversary of the victory of the Fatherland Liberation War. KCNA—AFP/Getty ImagesNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un smokes a cigarette as he gives guidance on the development of Ssuk Islet in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang June 2, 2014. KCNA—REUTERSNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) visits a construction site of a resort for scientists in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang May 29, 2014. KCNA—REUTERSNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) sits in a wooden boat with other soldiers as he visits military units on islands in the most southwest of Pyongyang in this picture released by the North's official KCNA news agency in Pyongyang August 19, 2012. KCNA—REUTERSThe photo provided by KCNA on Aug. 15, 2014 shows top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (C) guides the test-fire of a "Korean style ultra-precision high-performance tactical rocket" on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of the nation's liberation. KCNA—XIHNUA/SIPANorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the newly built ski resort in the Masik Pass region, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on December 31, 2013. North Korea's state-run television KRT said Kim was satisfied with the ski resort after looking around its facilities which included a hotel, ski service and rental shops. KCNA—ReutersA picture released by the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling North Korean Workers Party released on 30 June 2014, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observing a tactical rocket firing drill of the North's Strategic Force at an unidentified place. Rodong Sinmun—EPA
