North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reduced public appearances by a fourth so far this year, with half involving military inspections, Seoul's unification ministry said Wednesday.

Kim conducted 75 inspections between Jan. 1 and Oct. 17, a 24.2 percent decrease from 99 during the same period last year, according to the data compiled by the ministry.


Military-related tours accounted for 49 percent. Only 22.7 percent were related to the economy, the lowest ratio since he took office in late 2011. Especially in July and August, Kim engaged in no economy-related public events, as the North apparently focused on missile testing.

In July, North Korea tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles and threatened in August to fire a salvo of missiles into waters near the US territory of Guam.

Top military official Hwang Pyong-so accompanied Kim the most, followed by Jo Yong-won, a vice director of the ruling party's central committee, the ministry said. In 2016, Jo ranked first, trailed by Hwang. (Yonhap)