Pictures show Kim Jong-un walking unaided

North Korea's top newspaper has carried pictures of leader Kim Jong-Un walking without a stick, apparently showing he has recovered from either an injury or surgery to his leg.

Rodong Sinmun, the official daily of the state's ruling Korean Workers Party, carried a photo of a smiling Kim walking without the cane he was seen using last month.

The picture shows Kim walking to a chair in front of a crowd of soldiers for a photo opportunity.

Another picture showed Kim standing and clapping his hands.

Following an extended absence from the pubic eye, Kim re-surfaced with a walking stick in mid-October.

His nearly six-week absence triggered a frenzy of speculation about his health and grip on power.

North Korea's state TV at the time carried still photos of Kim walking with a black cane but aired no matching video footage.

Before his prolonged absence, state television had shown an overweight Kim walking with a pronounced limp.