Shock as 'purged' North Korean diplomat reappears with Kim Jong-un

Kim Yong-chol had reportedly been sentenced to hard labour and ideological re-education

Kim Yong-chol can be seen sitting on the far right, with his hands partially covering his face (AP)

A senior North Korean official who had reportedly been purged over the failed nuclear summit with Donald Trump has appeared in state media enjoying an art performance with Kim Jong-un.

Kim Yong-chol, who had been the North’s top nuclear diplomat and counterpart of Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, was shown sitting five seats away from the clapping North Korean leader.

They were seen with other top officials enjoying a musical performance by the wives of Korean People’s Army officers.

Last week, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo cited an unidentified source who said Kim Yong-chol had been sentenced to hard labour and ideological re-education over the failed summit in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

Negotiations broke down over what the US described as excessive North Korean demands for sanctions relief in exchange for only a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

The newspaper also reported that Kim Hyok-chool, the North’s working-level nuclear envoy to the US, was executed with four other officials for betraying Kim Jong-un after being won over by the US.

Mr Pompeo said he had seen the report and the US was “doing our best to check it out”.

Pyongyang’s stringent control of information has made it difficult for the South Korea’s government and media to track developments among the North’s ruling elite.

Kim Yong-chol had been described as Kim Jong-un’s right-hand man and previously worked as a military intelligence chief.

During denuclearisation talks with the US last year, he travelled to Washington and met Mr Trump twice before the US president met Kim Jong-un.

He was believed to be behind two deadly attacks in 2010 that killed 50 South Koreans and the alleged cyberattack on Sony Pictures in 2014.