The mystery around Kim Jong-un's health has continued to grow after a train was spotted outside his holiday home on the country's east coast.
There have been mounting rumours about the health of the North Korean leader due to his recent public disappearance and for the first time since taking leadership, he missed the birthday celebrations of his late grandfather Kim Il Sung.
Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, claimed Kim was having heart surgery in early April but his condition worsened.
Reuters reported a Chinese medical team was brought in to treat Kim, fueling rumours he may be critically ill, or possibly dead.
Now North Korean analysis website 38 North has released satellite images of Jong-un's holiday home in Wonsan which shows what appears to be Kim's train arriving.
"The approximately 250-meter long train, although partially covered by the station’s roof, can be seen at a railway station reserved for use by the Kim family," 38 North says.
"It was not present on April 15 but was present on both April 21 and 23...
"The train's presence does not prove the whereabouts of the North Korean leader or indicate anything about his health, but it does lend weight to reports that Kim is staying at an elite area on the country’s eastern coast."
On April 23 the train had reportedly been repositioned to indicate a departure but as of April 25, it had not left the station.
CNN reports Kim usually prefers to fly into the compound and the train could indicate he needs a more comfortable form of transport after his operation.
North Korea is known to tightly control the information available about Kim and state-controlled media have noticeably avoided the topic of his health.
But foreign policy adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in told CNN Kim is alive and well.
"Our government position is firm," he said. "He has been staying in the Wonsan area since April 13" with "no suspicious movements" detected.
Kim is a known heavy smoker and has gained weight since taking on the leadership role in 2011, causing concerns for his health.
There are now questions as to who would take over the leadership if he was to die.
His children are believed to all be under 10 years old and therefore would be too young to rule without assistance from a political guardian or relative.
Kim's younger sister Kim Yo Jong has recently been increasingly involved in the country's leadership as the chief of staff and vice director of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, which indicates she could be viable for the role, Reuters reports.
