Kim Jong Un in 'vegetative state', China medical team to reach North Korea

A train presumed to belong to North Korean's Kim Jong-un has been spotted at a station in the state's eastern coastal town of Wonsan amid speculation about the leader's health, a US monitor said on Sunday, citing commercial satellite imagery on the region, Yonhap news agency of South Korea reported.

Seoul:North Korea's top leader Kim Jong-un is reportedly to be in a 'vegetative state' as his health appears could be more serious than initially believed, Japanese media reported.

Earlier this week, the North Korean leader was gravely ill following heart surgery.

Media reports said that China had dispatched a team to North Korea to advise on Kim's health.

Besides, a train presumed to belong to North Korean's Kim Jong-un has been spotted at a station in the state's eastern coastal town of Wonsan amid speculation about the leader's health, a US monitor said on Sunday, citing commercial satellite imagery on the region, Yonhap news agency of South Korea reported.

According to 38 North-- a website devoted to analysis about North Korea, the imagery showed a train probably belonging to Kim Jong Un parked at the Leadership Railway Station servicing his Wonsan compound since at least April 21.

"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. It was not present on April 15 but was present on both April 21 and 23," it said.

"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," it added.

However, the reports about Kim's health are disputed as North Korea has not made any official statement regarding it.

The Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department departed for North Korea on Thursday. Those involved are keeping quiet about the nature of the trip, and even the sources that reported on the trip are keeping quiet regarding what it means for Kim's current state, Japanese media reported.

(IANS)