ID :
30546
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 21:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/30546
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea says leader attended military art performance
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has attended a
military art performance, the North's news agency reported Sunday amid lingering
suspicions about his health.
Kim "warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering performers and
congratulated them on their successful presentation," the Korean Central News
Agency (KCNA) said, without giving a date or the venue of his appearance.
The report said Kim watched the show along with several senior military
officials. The performance was presented by the crew of a warship under Navy Unit
155 of the Korean People's Army (KPA), a company under KPA Unit 833 and a company
under KPA Unit 1313 as part of the 32nd military art festival, it said.
After nearly two-months of silence following rumors that Kim Jong-il suffered a
stroke, North Korea started reporting a series of undated public appearances by
Kim in late October in an apparent effort to dispel speculation that his health
is failing.
The reclusive North Korean leader's last public appearance prior to the rumors
was on Aug. 14, when North Korean media released a photo of him inspecting a
women soldiers' unit.
Seoul officials believe Kim suffered a stroke and underwent brain surgery in
August.
Earlier in November, North Korea showed several photos of Kim watching a soccer
game between soldiers. In the photos, believed to have been taken in late October
given the background foliage, Kim is smiling with his left hand weakly hanging
from his jacket pocket, a possible sign of paralysis.
On Nov. 6, the KCNA also reported that Kim viewed an artistic performance along
with a group of soldiers, without giving a date.
Kim's disappearance from public view coincided with the restart of North Korea's
disabled nuclear facilities in August in protest of the U.S. failure to delist
Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The North's hardline policy has triggered speculation that the military was using
Kim's weakened health to derail the denuclearization talks.
North Korea in October resumed disabling its nuclear facilities as Washington
lifted it from the U.S. terrorism blacklist.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
military art performance, the North's news agency reported Sunday amid lingering
suspicions about his health.
Kim "warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering performers and
congratulated them on their successful presentation," the Korean Central News
Agency (KCNA) said, without giving a date or the venue of his appearance.
The report said Kim watched the show along with several senior military
officials. The performance was presented by the crew of a warship under Navy Unit
155 of the Korean People's Army (KPA), a company under KPA Unit 833 and a company
under KPA Unit 1313 as part of the 32nd military art festival, it said.
After nearly two-months of silence following rumors that Kim Jong-il suffered a
stroke, North Korea started reporting a series of undated public appearances by
Kim in late October in an apparent effort to dispel speculation that his health
is failing.
The reclusive North Korean leader's last public appearance prior to the rumors
was on Aug. 14, when North Korean media released a photo of him inspecting a
women soldiers' unit.
Seoul officials believe Kim suffered a stroke and underwent brain surgery in
August.
Earlier in November, North Korea showed several photos of Kim watching a soccer
game between soldiers. In the photos, believed to have been taken in late October
given the background foliage, Kim is smiling with his left hand weakly hanging
from his jacket pocket, a possible sign of paralysis.
On Nov. 6, the KCNA also reported that Kim viewed an artistic performance along
with a group of soldiers, without giving a date.
Kim's disappearance from public view coincided with the restart of North Korea's
disabled nuclear facilities in August in protest of the U.S. failure to delist
Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The North's hardline policy has triggered speculation that the military was using
Kim's weakened health to derail the denuclearization talks.
North Korea in October resumed disabling its nuclear facilities as Washington
lifted it from the U.S. terrorism blacklist.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
