Pacifist Japan took a step closer to acquiring weapons able to strike North Korea on Friday after a ruling party committee approved proposals to consider acquiring strike capability to halt ballistic missile attacks.

Japan has flamed the ongoing speculation about North Korea’s leader, citing “suspicions” over the dictator’s health after disappearing.

She’s been described as cold, ruthless and haughty. Now North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong is making a power play in the Hermit Kingdom.

With China's Shulan in lockdown, nearby North Korea continued to report zero COVID-19 cases as state media aired footage of crowds at supermarkets and parks.​

A South Korean guard post in the demilitarized zone was hit by “multiple gunshots” from the North, forcing Seoul’s military to “return fire,” Yonhap reports citing the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Previous to now, the head of state hadn't been publicly seen for two weeks, raising concerns about his health and rumors about his disappearance amid the coronavirus epidemic.

As speculation surrounding Kim Jong-un’s health continues, satellite imagery suggests the North Korean leader has travelled by boat to his luxury villa.

Speculation and rumour about Kim Jong-un's health may amount to nothing, but questions about who might succeed him in the short or long term will always be there. The BBC spoke to analysts about the contenders and whether history is on their side.

Speculation that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is in a serious condition has ramped up and now satellite images have provided further clues.

Rumors have swirled regarding Kim's health after he missed the celebration of his late grandfather's 108th birthday on April 15..

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un missed another national holiday, fueling rumors and reports of his health. But U.S. intelligence still sees no sign of him losing power.

China has sent a medical team to assess the health status of the supreme leader, Reuters reported.

The death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un could spark a regional crisis, requiring a massive military and humanitarian response.

Here are some possible successors:

South Korean officials have spoken over the rumours that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is in “grave danger” after undergoing heart surgery.

North Korea has announced it carried out a “test of great significance” to the leadership of the country at the launch site close to the China border, adding that it will help to change the "strategic position" of Pyongyang.

North Korea has fired an unidentified short-range projectile twice, South Korean officials say, in the country's third weapons test in just over a week.

South must stop weapons imports, military drills with U.S., Kim Jong-un says via state media

The newly appointed White House press secretary got into an "all-out brawl" with North Korean aides Sunday ahead of President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's meeting in front of the press.

Trump made history by becoming the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korean territory during his (possibly) surprise meeting with the North Korean leader.