Is Kim Jong Un in hiding ahead of nuclear war? Dictator hasn't been seen in public for weeks
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has not been seen in public for weeks - increasing fears he is preparing for nuclear conflict.
The dictator was last seen on July 31 but has yet to surface since the secretive nation became embroiled in a war of words with the United States.
His absence has sparked speculation in neighbouring South Korea that Jong-Un is preparing another act of provocation, perhaps on Tuesday which is a public holiday.
There have even been suggestions Jong-Un is holed up in a nuclear bunker ahead of a possible conflict with the US.
In response to the reports, North Korea's state media said on Monday that Kim Jong-Un had visited the command of the Strategic Force.
(Image: YNA / KCNA)
He was shown plans for firing four ballistics missiles at US targets on the Pacific island of Guam and examined them "for a long time", according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
North Korea said last week that it will finalise by mid-August its detailed plan to fire four intermediate-range ballistic missiles around Guam and report it to its leader for approval.
It follows weeks of heightened tensions after the UN approved harsh new sanctions on the North Korean regime as punishment for pursuing a nuclear programme.
President Donald Trump then further antagonised the situation by promising North Korea would face "fire and fury" if it fails to back down.
As the two countries have engaged in a game of tit-for-tat threats, Jong-Un himself has not yet made remarks in public.
However some experts have said this is not uncommon, as the leader is believed to have an unknown health condition.
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It comes as North Korea warned the US a devastating war could be sparked by just an "accidental" event.
The warning was issued as the US and South Korea are preparing to stage annual joint military drills later this month.
The Korean Central News Agency said: "Even if no one wants, if a small accidental event flares up, anybody cannot prevent a war."
Pyongyang earlier threatened to carry out four intermediate-range ballistic missile strikes near the US territory of Guam.
(Image: AFP)
(Image: Reuters)
South Korea and the US plan to conduct the two-week exercise amid heightened tensions between Pyongyang and Washington, Yonhap news agency reports.
North Korea has claimed that the drill is a rehearsal for northern invasion, despite reassurances by Seoul and Washington that it is defensive in nature.
"Despite our warning, if the U.S. continues to wield a nuclear bat in front of a nuclear power, it will only accelerate its own self-destruction," the KCNA said.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: AFP)
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford said the military options being prepared against North Korea would be for when diplomatic and economic sanctions failed.
Dunford made the comments to South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a 50-minute meeting to discuss recent issues including North Korean provocation, office spokesman Park Su-hyun told a media briefing.
He was in Seoul speaking to South Korean military officials, including Defence Minister Song Young-moo.
(Image: Getty)
(Image: AFP)
He was due to leave South Korea later on Monday and will make stops in China and Japan this week.
Tension has increased in recent months over concern that North Korea is close to achieving its goal of putting the mainland United States within range of a nuclear weapon.
North Korea and the United States exchanged threats of military action last week, with Pyongyang saying it will develop a plan to strike the US Pacific territory of Guam.