朝鲜领导人金正恩卧床不起？

North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un hasn't been seen at a public event for three weeks, including a prominent state meeting that he has attended every year since coming to power in late 2011.

On Thursday, Kim was conspicuously absent from the Supreme People's Assembly, which is North Korea's parliament attended by officials of the party, the military and various national organizations. A prominent seat remained empty on stage surrounded by North Korea's top brass.

"We expected to see him at the Supreme People's Assembly, because he had attended that session every time," said Yoo Ho-Yeol, a professor of North Korean studies at Korea University in Seoul. "So we are speculating that he might have problems in his health."

On Thursday, North Korean state TV referred to Kim, saying, "The wealth and prosperity of our socialism is thanks to the painstaking efforts of our marshal, who keeps lighting the path for the people, like the flicker of a flame, despite suffering from discomfort."

The 31-year-old leader's absence has fueled speculation that Kim has a health problem, as some observers have pointed to weight gain, as well as a limp when he was seen walking in July.

Korea's state-run news agency, KCNA, routinely catalogs Kim's activities and public appearances. A count of KCNA announcements about Kim's public appearances went from 24 events in July to 16 in August. It dwindled to just one event in September. His last listed public appearance was a September 4 concert, which he attended with his wife Ri Sol Ju, according to KCNA.

While it's difficult to know what's happening in North Korea, the absence of its leader from public view has given hints in the past.

"We had that kind of occasion when Kim Jong Il was seriously sick in 2008," said Yoo.

That year, the elder Kim's absence from parades and national events raised questions about the leader's health. US and South Korean intelligence believed that Kim Jong Il had suffered severe health problems and possibly a stroke.

Kim died at the age of 69, in December 2011, and his son assumed command.据美国有线新闻网（CNN）9月27日报道，最近三周，朝鲜领导人金正恩都没有在公开的场合露面，就连从2011年掌权以来，从未缺席过的最高人民会议，也一并缺席。

9月25日，朝鲜举行最高人民会议，该会议的与会者主要包括劳动党领导人、军方及各种国家机构负责人，但值得注意的是，金正恩并未出席该会议。台上的一个主坐空着，周围坐着一众朝鲜高官。

“我们本来预想他会出席此次会议，因为他每次都参加该（这个）会议，”高丽大学（Korea University）朝鲜问题专家柳何烈(Yoo Ho-Yeol)教授说道，“所以，我们猜测他可能健康出了问题。”

9月25日，朝鲜国家电视台提及金正恩时说道：“我们社会主义的富裕繁荣，都要归功于我们元帅的高度努力，他尽管身体不适，他仍如同闪耀的火焰一般，不断照亮人民的道路。”

这位31岁领导人的缺席，人们对此多有猜测认为他健康出了问题。有些人认为是体重超标，也有人认为他腿部出了问题，因为7月份的一个视频显示，他走路一瘸一拐。

朝鲜国家新闻通讯社——朝鲜中央通讯社（KCNA）例行通报了金正恩出席活动与在公共场合露面的情况。从7月到8月16日，朝鲜中央通讯社共报道了金正日24次公开活动。而在9月份则剧减至仅仅1次。他最近一次亮相是在9月4日与其妻子李雪主（Ri Sol Ju）观看音乐会。

我们很难知道朝鲜发生了什么情况，但在过去，其领导人从公众的视野中消失时能给人些许提示。

“在2008年，金正日病重时，我们经历过同样的状况。”柳何烈说道。

在那一年，金正日缺席了游行及国家的一些重大活动，人们怀疑他的健康状况出了问题。美国与韩国的情报机构相信金正日遭遇了严重的健康问题，很可能是中风。

金正日于2011年12月去世，享年69岁。他的儿子继承了领袖地位。