Kim Jong-il visits factories in border town with China: KCNA

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has visited machinery and cosmetics companies in a border town with China in his second public appearance in eight days, North Korean media reported Tuesday.

Kim's visit to the companies in Shinuiju, North Pyongan Province, is the first
such visit outside of Pyongyang among a series of public appearances the
reclusive North Korean leader made in recent months apparently to quell rumors of
his health failure.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim was
satisfied that the Rakwon machinery company has achieved its production target
for this year by the end of October, implying that the visit was made in early
November.
North Korean media usually do not reveal the exact date and venue of Kim's public
appearances.
Kim's last public appearance was reported by the KCNA on Nov. 17. At that time,
Kim was reported to have viewed an artistic performance by soldiers.
Kim was absent from public view for nearly two months, from Aug. 14 to early
October, triggering speculation that he suffered a stroke and underwent brain
surgery.
Since early October, North Korean media have sought to quell suspicions over
Kim's health by releasing photos of Kim attending an artistic performance and a
soccer game between soldiers and inspecting military units.
They, however, failed to reveal when and where the photos were taken, spawning
allegations that the pictures might have been doctored.
A photo of Kim inspecting a women soldiers' unit that was released last month
carried apparent summer foliage, the photos of Kim released earlier this month
showed signs of paralysis of his left hand. Some analysts even raised suspicions
of fabrication, citing the disproportion between him and others beside him.
North Korean media have not released any video footage of Kim since August to put
an end to disputes over his health.
Some analysts say the release of Kim's photos in recent weeks shows North Korea's
willingness to deal directly with the incoming Barack Obama administration over
the six-party nuclear talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that a fresh round of
six-party talks will be held in China on Dec. 8 to discuss North Korea's nuclear
disarmament.
U.S. officials said they want to make it clear in the upcoming nuclear talks that
North Korea guaranteed access to its nuclear sites and sampling of materials for
complete verification of the nuclear list it presented in June.
North Korea recently denied the U.S. claim that the regime promised access to its
nuclear facilities and sampling in October when U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
Christopher Hill visited Pyongyang.
U.S. hardliners accused the Bush administration of accepting a weak deal to make
the North Korean nuclear issue a major foreign policy achievement in its waning
months.
Obama has said on several occasions that he is ready to meet with North Korean
leader Kim and has been critical of the George W. Bush administration for not
engaging Pyongyang, which led to the North's detonation of a nuclear device in
2006 and the build-up of its nuclear arsenal.
The incoming U.S. president recently praised Bush's direct engagement of the
North for the past couple of years, saying engagement produced results.
Reports say Obama may send a special envoy to Pyongyang soon after his
inauguration in January to try and make a breakthrough in the on-and-off
multilateral nuclear talks, which date back to 2003.
Bush's predecessor, Bill Clinton, agreed to visit Pyongyang in 2000 just months
prior to leaving office, but the plan was scrapped for lack of time. Bush, after
taking office, disregarded the agreement and labeled the North as part of an axis
of evil with which he would not negotiate.