Satellite imagery shows that previously reported construction in an area at the Yongbyon uranium enrichment plant has been covered to hide details of the building’s layout.
While North Korea has frequently shifted between provocations and diplomatic overtures, Kim now appears to be trying to do both at the same time.
Any expansion of its enrich uranium program would be another sign that Kim Jong Un is removing self-imposed constraints on his atomic weapons program put in place during talks with the U.S.
Images of the North Korean leader at events in late July showed a bandage and later a dark greenish spot on the back of his head.
The stakes are enormous for Suga, whose political fortunes are closely tied to the games, and for the IOC, which faces scrutiny on whether it is prioritizing money over public health.
By allowing comment on Kim’s weight, the country's propaganda apparatus supported a familiar theme in the myth-making of regime leaders.
Their meeting was the first among the envoys since Biden took office and came just days after Kim Jong Un said his country is ready for "both dialogue and confrontation."
Periods of prolonged absences have become a bit more frequent for Kim since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The current break is believed to be his seventh since 2020.
Having branded the president-elect an 'imbecile,' Pyongyang has made clear that it prefers dealing with Trump.
In his last full week on the job, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid the groundwork for a plan to allow preemptive strikes on enemy bases.
