N. Korean leader makes record number of public visits in 2009

(ATTN: RECASTS lead, ADDS analysis in paras 11-15)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il made more public
appearances this year than any year since he took power, with the most notable
increase seen in his economy-related activities, Seoul's Unification Ministry
said Friday.
According to data filed by the ministry based on North Korean media reports, Kim,
who had a suspected stroke in 2008, appeared in public 156 times this year as of
Friday. The figure was the highest since Kim's regime was officially launched in
1998, four years after his father and the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, died.
"Considering the frequency of his field guidance trips, we think he has no major
problem in administering state affairs," ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said,
"He is more sprightly and active than ever before, when we judge from the
reports."
The previous annual record of 131 visits was set in 2005. Last year, Kim made 90
visits.
For outside watchers, North Korean media reports are almost the only official
source of information that offers a peek into Kim's activities. When he was not
mentioned or seen in media reports for weeks in the summer of 2008, including a
military parade at the 60th Workers' Party anniversary in September, outside
speculation had mushroomed about his health conditions.
Seoul and Washington officials later said he is believed to have suffered a
stroke in August.
The ministry spokeswoman said Seoul currently sees no unusual signs of Kim's
activities, despite a report that he may be ill again. According to Open Radio
for North Korea, a Seoul-based station that broadcasts South Korea-related
programs to North Korea and claims to have informants there, Kim has been
suffering from chronic laryngitis, a condition where the larynx is swelled or
inflamed, since November.
In a breakdown of his outings, the ministry data shows that Kim has significantly
increased economy-related activities while cutting back on military visits. The
number of his visits to industrial facilities and other economic venues shot up
to 64 this year, compared to 24 last year.
The number of his diplomatic activities, mostly meetings with foreign visitors,
increased to 13, compared to five last year.
Contrary to the overall rise of his outings, however, he made 43 inspections to
the Korean People's Army units, down from 50.
Cheong Seong-chang, a North Korea expert with the Sejong Institute, a
non-governmental think tank outside Seoul, cited the North's all-out campaign to
build a "strong, prosperous and powerful socialist nation" by 2012, solve chronic
food shortages and rebuild its frail infrastructure. The year 2012 is the birth
centennial of Kim Il-sung.
In his latest field trip to the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex in a northern
province, reported on Friday, Kim described next year as "a very important
historic year" in achieving the 2012 campaign.
"It is highly likely that a major part of his activities will continue to be
concentrated on the economy because North Korea's biggest national agenda is
preparing for 2012," Cheong said.
Cheong, who has closely watched the North's power structure, also believes Kim's
son and alleged heir, Kim Jong-un, is increasingly taking over state affairs in
Pyongyang, giving his father time to travel.
Driven by his health concerns, the senior Kim is believed to have named his third
and youngest son, still in his 20s, as his successor in January.
In a possible reflection of the North's power hierarchy, the top commander most
often took Workers' Party Secretary Kim Ki-nam with him in his outings, 107 times
overall.
His brother-in-law and a party department director, Jang Song-thaek, came second
with 84 visits. Jang, married to the leader's only sister, Kim Kyong-hui, is
believed to be acting as a regent for Jong-un.
Kim's activities were mostly evenly spread across the year, reaching the highest
level in November with 19 visits and lowest in July with eight.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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