An undated picture released on Tuesday by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center) smiling as he inspects a newly built housing complex in Pyongyang. Photo: AFP/KCNA via KNS

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's reappearance in public after more than six weeks of global speculation shows his firm grip on power which will ensure Northeast Asia's regional stability, analysts said.

Official North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun on Tuesday reported that Kim visited a newly built residential district and the Natural Energy Institute of the State Academy of Sciences in Pyongyang. The report did not specify the timing of the visit.

Kim's reappearance was also mentioned in a separate but similar report by the official Korean Central News Agency.

The reports were the first time the state-run news media had mentioned a public appearance by Kim since September 3 when he was reported to have attended a concert in Pyongyang.

In a series of pictures shown in the report, Kim appeared to be healthy with a huge grin, but was walking with a cane as he gave field guidance at the new complex.

Analysts said Kim's reappearance should put an end to the recent flurry of rumors that the leader's poor health was harming his leadership, or he that he had been overthrown during power struggle caused by his absence of over 40 days from public view.

"It shows that Kim's leadership has remained intact. His health problems are not serious enough to affect his administration," Lü Chao, an expert with the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

It seems Kim has not fully recovered yet and the reappearance intended to dispel worries that had spread inside and outside North Korea, Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow of the Sejong Institute in South Korea, said in a commentary e-mailed to the Global Times.

In an attempt that was seemingly designed to quiet suspicions over political instability or a military coup in Pyongyang, official media reported that Kim was escorted by North Korea's top officials, including Hwang Pyong-so, his No.2, who made a surprise visit to South Korea for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games earlier this month.

Li Dunqiu, a Korean studies scholar with Zhejiang University, told the Global Times that he believed the North Korean media disclosure of Kim's health condition shows that the North Korean government has become more transparent.

Korean Central TV reported last month that Kim was in an "indisposed condition." Previous TV footage in July showed Kim walking with a limp at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of his grandfather and North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung.

Cheong said he believed Kim was trying to earn sympathy from North Koreans by revealing his health condition, which shows a different style of leadership as compared to his father Kim Jong-il, who tried to hide the fact he had surgery in 2008.

Despite Kim's high-profile reappearance being reported by North Korean media, some Western commentators questioned the reliability of these reports, and said the pictures were taken in August.

Li, however, said these rumors are part of the long trend of distorted coverage of North Korea, especially coming from the US.

The US is trying to benefit from Kim's absence, Li said. The rumors will create the impression of a destabilized Korean Peninsula, so as to justify the US government's interference in Northeast Asian affairs.

Experts said Kim's secure grip on power is critical and beneficial to stability in the region.

"North Korea's stability is essential as the country borders China so closely, particularly in the industrial northeastern region," Lü said.

Kim's reappearance came after South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on Monday during the second round of meetings of the Unification Preparation Committee that the two Koreas should insist on dialogue in order to ease tension and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The two Koreas are set to resume a formal high-level dialogue between late October and early November after a suspension of seven months, despite recent shots being fired from both sides on their land and maritime borders. The decision was reached during Hwang's visit to Incheon for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games.

Park Gayoung contributed to this story