Kim Jong-Il - North Korea
Kim's 'recent' photos apparently taken before stroke
Monday 13 October 2008
Recently-released photographs of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il were taken during the summer, before his reported stroke in mid-August, South Korea's Yonhap agency claims. Kim has disappeared from the public eye for two months.
Monday 13 October 2008
By AFPRecently-released photographs of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il were taken before his reported stroke in mid-August, South Korea's Yonhap agency reported Sunday citing intelligence sources.
The North's state television on Saturday showed photographs of Kim for the first time in almost two months since he disappeared from the public eye.
But Yonhap said the dark green colour of grass and trees in the images led intelligence authorities to believe they were taken in summer, and it was not even clear which year.
North Korea is now in autumn.
"Analysis of the Kim Jong-Il photos shows that given natural environments displayed in them, they were taken in July or August, although with the year unknown," an unidentified intelligence source told the news agency.
Yonhap said intelligence officials believe the photos were shot before Kim underwent brain surgery in mid-August.
An unidentifed government source told Yonhap the 10 still photographs were apparently released to show Kim's regime is "in good shape" both at home and abroad.
The pictures aired on state television showed Kim, 66, inspecting a women's artillery battery wearing his trademark khaki boiler suit -- but did not say when the visit was made.
Kim was last spotted by official media on August 14. He failed to appear on September 9 for a parade marking the country's 60th anniversary.
South Korean officials said he had suffered a stroke around mid-August and underwent brain surgery but was recovering well.
On October 4 state media said the leader attended a football match but did not specify when, or carry photographs.
He also failed to appear at Friday's ceremonies on the anniversary of the ruling communist party, although state broadcasters carried a rare statement under his name appealing for loyalty.
Saturday's photos showed Kim wearing sunglasses and chatting with troops, clapping or watching a parade. His hair appeared as bouffant as before and his chubby but ageing face looked similar to photos before his reported stroke.
The television carried no video footage.
Kim's health is the subject of intense speculation as he has not publicly nominated a successor to run the impoverished and nuclear-armed nation.
He officially took over from his father, founding president Kim Il-Sung, in 1997 in the world's only communisty dynasty.
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12/10/2008 19:45:21 Alert a moderator
Can the US be trusted?
By Kirk Hetfield - Boston
The question is not can north korea fulfill it's end of the deal, but can America?
Afterall, Pyongyang is eager to normalize relations, it's in their interest, they need the capital.
But the US previously did not keep up it's end of the deal, on other ocassions. This gives pyongyang one option only: Develop nukes, to counteract the threat posed by South Korean troops, still under the direct command of a US general. If America keeps up it's end of the deal, comrade Kim can put this great nation forward, and give "bibimbap" for all his people.