North Korean leader's absence fuels coup speculation

North Korea is playing down speculation over the health of its leader Kim Jong Un, saying he hurt his leg taking part in a military drill, but remains in firm control of his government.

Kim was last seen in public on 3rd September and his name was not on a list of high-ranking party and military officials who attended a ceremony marking the anniversary of the founding of North Korea's Workers' Party on Friday.

A source with access to the North's leadership told a foreign press agency that on Thursday Kim had hurt his leg while inspecting military exercises.

"He ordered all the generals to take part in drills and he took part too. They were crawling and running and rolling around, and he pulled a tendon," the source told a foreign news agency, on condition of anonymity.

"He injured his ankle and knee around late August or early September while drilling because he is overweight. He limped around in the beginning but the injury worsened," it said.

Kim, who has rapidly gained weight after coming to power in 2011, had been observed to be walking with a limp since July.

"Kim Jong Un is in total control," said the source.

Kim's absence from public view is fuelling speculation over the state of his health and whether he may have been sidelined in a power struggle. North Korea is currently governed by a hereditary dictatorship of the Kim family.

North Korean officials have denied that Kim's public absence since early September is health-related.

The source with knowledge of Kim Jong Un's health said rumours of a coup were "rubbish".