ID :
30608
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/30608
The shortlink copeid
No image of N. Korean leader released despite report of his appearance
(ATTN: UPDATES with TV reports in paras 1-9)
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- No moving or still images of North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il had been released Sunday, despite an earlier report by the North's media
that he attended a military art performance.
The North's official news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported
earlier Sunday on Kim's visit to the 32nd military art festival amid lingering
suspicions about his health.
Without giving a date or the venue of his appearance, the KCNA reported that Kim,
along with several senior military officials, watched a performance 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
festival.
Kim "warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering performers and
congratulated them on their successful presentation," the KCNA said.
In the 5:00 p.m. news time slot, the (North) Korean Central TV Broadcasting
Station aired a total of 12 photos of the performance by the warship crew, which
it claimed Kim watched.
According to the photos revealed by the TV station, the venue seemed to be a
small theater, in which 87 crewmen danced and sang together to an accordianist's
accompaniment.
Other photos showed some 80 female soldiers singing or performing, while waving
pink artificial flowers, four male soldiers singing in chorus and three soldiers
in spotty designed uniforms perfoming with rifles.
When or where the performance took place could not be confirmed.
No photos showed Kim watching the performance.
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.
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- No moving or still images of North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il had been released Sunday, despite an earlier report by the North's media
that he attended a military art performance.
The North's official news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported
earlier Sunday on Kim's visit to the 32nd military art festival amid lingering
suspicions about his health.
Without giving a date or the venue of his appearance, the KCNA reported that Kim,
along with several senior military officials, watched a performance 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
festival.
Kim "warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering performers and
congratulated them on their successful presentation," the KCNA said.
In the 5:00 p.m. news time slot, the (North) Korean Central TV Broadcasting
Station aired a total of 12 photos of the performance by the warship crew, which
it claimed Kim watched.
According to the photos revealed by the TV station, the venue seemed to be a
small theater, in which 87 crewmen danced and sang together to an accordianist's
accompaniment.
Other photos showed some 80 female soldiers singing or performing, while waving
pink artificial flowers, four male soldiers singing in chorus and three soldiers
in spotty designed uniforms perfoming with rifles.
When or where the performance took place could not be confirmed.
No photos showed Kim watching the performance.
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.
(END)
