Amid rumors of illness, Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) made his first public appearance in 20 days, according to the country's state media Saturday.

Kim Friday attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony of a fertilizer plant in Sunchon, South Pyongan Province, according to DPRK state news agency KCNA.

"All the participants broke into thunderous cheers of 'hurrah!', extending the greatest glory to the Supreme Leader who has brought about a new change" in the development of fertilizer industry, the report said.

A completion ceremony of the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory, which has been built as the production base of fertilizer, was splendidly held on May Day, the international holiday of the working people of the whole world, the report added.

During the ceremony, Kim inspected several functions and places, including raw material processing, yellow phosphorus production, ammonium phosphatic fertilizer production, and the packing process.

"Now it has become possible for the agricultural workers to concentrate all their efforts on attaining the grain goal set forth by the party with assurances," KCNA quoted him as saying with satisfaction.

Kim was joined by his sister Kim Yo Jong as well as other senior officials, including Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, it added.

Pak Pong Ju made an inauguration speech, saying the completion of the factory was a great, auspicious event which has brought great delight to all the agricultural workers and other people of the country.

Kim was last publicly seen on April 11, presiding over a political bureau meeting of the ruling Workers Party. His absence from events celebrating the birthday of his late grandfather and DPRK founder, Kim Il Sung, on April 15 triggered speculation about his health.

(With input from Xinhua)