North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was absent from a gathering of top party and government officials on Thursday, state television showed, fueling speculation that health problems may be keeping the 31-year-old out of the public eye.
Kim had been expected to attend a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), or parliament, which is the highest sovereign body, with powers to revise the constitution, make key appointments and approve the budget.
The meeting was the first Kim Jong Un has not attended since he came to power three years ago. State television broadcast images of his chair standing vacant for the duration of the function.