North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a newly-built eye hospital, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday, marking his first inspection tour after a hiatus of 11 days.

The North's leader gave the so-called field guidance to Ryugyong General Ophthalmic Hospital, which he says is equipped with the best and ultra-modern facilities needed for eye treatment, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The report did not specify the timing of his visit, but the media outlet usually reports inspections made a day earlier by the leader.

It marked his first inspection since Oct. 7 when the KCNA reported Kim's visit to a souvenir factory.

The North's leader did not show up for major events to mark the country's key anniversaries in October.

He did not even attend ceremonies to mark the 71st anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea which fell on Oct. 10.

He was also absent from an event on Sunday to mark the 90th anniversary of the formation of an anti-imperialism group.

The absence by the North's leader from the public eye had spawned speculation that he may not be in good shape. Some experts speculated that he might have been hiding as Seoul and Washington staged large-scale joint naval drills last week.

In October 2014, Kim made his first public appearance after a 40-day absence, using a walking stick. (Yonhap)