N. Korea emphasizes national unity amid reports of Kim's illness

SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea emphasized on Sunday the necessity of maintaining national unity and loyalty towards leader Kim Jong-il, amid recent reports that Kim had collapsed and is recovering from a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage.

A lengthy political discourse that appeared in North Korea's official newspaper, the Rodong Shinmun -- and was carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency -- said that the country's mightiest weapon is unity.

"Our mightiest weapon -- the real missile -- is 'the missile of unity.'
There are weapons that can destroy missiles, but there is not any weapon that can
destroy a crystal made up of tens of millions of hearts," the newspaper
said.

Stressing the importance of Kim to the state, it said: "At the center of our
unity is our leader. Our leader's greatness will enhance our unity."

The article lavished Kim with praise, and quoted him as saying: "It is
natural for me to struggle, and of course I would like to rest with my family.
However, because our people and soldiers are important to me, I sacrifice my
personal life and follow the road of revolution."

"The unity blossoming in this land is the sublime crystalloid of general Kim
Jong-il's limitless devotion," the newspaper said.

There has been a flurry of speculation since earlier this week surrounding the
North Korean leader's health following his absence at the country's 60th founding
anniversary military parade in Pyongyang on Tuesday.

Reports have surfaced that Western and Chinese doctors have flown into the
communist state.

ygkim@yna.co.kr

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