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Kim Jong-un has warned North Korean authorities to prepare for the dangers posed to the country by the coronavirus pandemic and a looming typhoon.

Mr Kim's appearance at a party meeting comes after widespread speculation over his health.

North Korea has not confirmed any Covid-19 cases and it is thought that a large outbreak would have a devastating effect on the impoverished nation.

Meanwhile Typhoon Bavi is expected to hit North Korea later this week.

Speaking at a meeting of the politburo on Tuesday, Mr Kim, who was smoking a cigarette, said there were "some shortcomings" in the state's efforts to keep out the "malignant virus", state media reported, without giving details.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Paul Henley has been speaking to Alistair Coleman, a North Korea media analyst at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Monitoring.

Photo shows: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends an enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers" Party of Korea (WPK), in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this image released August 25, 2020 by North Korea"s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). CreditL KCNA via Reuters

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