Kim Jong-un visits orphanage in North Korea

Images have been released showing the North Korean leader hugging children at the Pyongyang orphanage

This undated picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 4, 2014 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visiting a baby home and orphanage in Pyongyang. (AFP)

The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been photographed visiting an orphanage in Pyongyang in an apparent bid to show his 'softer side' just weeks after he ordered the execution of his uncle.

In images released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, he can be seen hugging a young child, and in another standing over five babies lying together in a row on the floor.

No further details on his visit have been released.

The photos follow claims made last week by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency that Jang Song-Thaek's children, brothers and grandchildren were also put to death following his execution in December.

Jang, 67, was executed by the Pyongyang government on 12 December and the killing of his family members "mean that no traces of him should be left", a source told Yonhap.

This undated picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 4, 2014 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visiting a baby home and orphanage in Pyongyang (AFP)

Following the execution of Jang Song-Thaek in December the Korean state news wire carried a statement in which the uncle was described as "despicable human scum" and "worse than a dog".

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