OREANDA-NEWS. South Korean intelligence does not confirm the information that the long absence of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in public was due to the operation he underwent. This, as the media reports, a representative of the country's intelligence agency said during a report in parliament.

The agency told parliamentarians that Kim Jong-un had appeared in public 17 times this year. This is much less than usual. On average, during this period of the year, the DPRK leader makes about 50 public appearances. However, according to the agency, the information that Kim Jong-un had heart surgery does not correspond to reality.

South Korean intelligence said Kim Jong-un’s less public activity was allegedly due to the country's leader focusing on internal affairs, particularly the situation with COVID-19.