ID :
19998
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 15:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19998
The shortlink copeid
Pro-Pyongyang daily denies allegations of Kim's illness
SEOUL, Sept. 17 (Yonhap) -- The daily of a Japan-based pro-Pyongyang group denied rumors of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's health problems on Wednesday, claiming the communist country's news media refrained from covering Kim's public activities due to high tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
"There have been times when the supreme leader's activities have not been made public through news media for certain periods when confrontation between the DPRK and the United States has intensified and tension has risen on the peninsula," Choson Sinbo reported.
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name for North Korea.
The Korean language daily described reports of Kim's health following his notable absence from a parade in Pyongyang marking North Korea's 60th anniversary on Sept. 9 as "arbitrary interpretations and speculation."
Kim, 66, has not appeared in public for more than a month since Aug.14, when he reportedly visited a North Korean military unit.
South Korea's main intelligence agency said Kim suffered a stroke in the middle of last month, but that he is recovering well enough to brush his teeth by himself and stand on his feet if assisted. Seoul's Unification Ministry dealing with North Korean affairs notes, however, they have yet to verify the intelligence report.
There has also been no report on Kim's health from Pyongyang's state-run news media since the issue gained worldwide attention.
The daily published by Chongryon, the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, is known to closely reflect the position of Pyongyang.
The report blames Washington's delay in taking the North off a list of state sponsors of terrorism for the "escalating tension" on the peninsula.
"If the United States does not switch its position, chances are high that the DPRK will return to the path of confrontation it followed two years ago," the daily said.
It warned that Washington may face an unpredictable situation if Pyongyang opts to keep reinforcing its self-defensive deterrence capabilities as a nuclear power.
North Korea conducted a nuclear test in October 2006, but later reached an agreement on scrapping its nuclear programs with the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and South Korea. Progress was made in the six-party disarmament talks when the North began disabling its key nuclear facilities and submitted a long-awaited list of its nuclear activities as part of the accord.
But the disarmament process is now in a deadlock over disagreements on how to verify the North's list.
Washington refused to delist Pyongyang until it agrees to a proper verification protocol. Angered by the decision, North Korea announced in late August that it had stopped disablement of its nuclear plants and has reportedly taken initial steps towards restarting its main plutonium-producing reactor at Yongbyon.
"There have been times when the supreme leader's activities have not been made public through news media for certain periods when confrontation between the DPRK and the United States has intensified and tension has risen on the peninsula," Choson Sinbo reported.
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name for North Korea.
The Korean language daily described reports of Kim's health following his notable absence from a parade in Pyongyang marking North Korea's 60th anniversary on Sept. 9 as "arbitrary interpretations and speculation."
Kim, 66, has not appeared in public for more than a month since Aug.14, when he reportedly visited a North Korean military unit.
South Korea's main intelligence agency said Kim suffered a stroke in the middle of last month, but that he is recovering well enough to brush his teeth by himself and stand on his feet if assisted. Seoul's Unification Ministry dealing with North Korean affairs notes, however, they have yet to verify the intelligence report.
There has also been no report on Kim's health from Pyongyang's state-run news media since the issue gained worldwide attention.
The daily published by Chongryon, the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, is known to closely reflect the position of Pyongyang.
The report blames Washington's delay in taking the North off a list of state sponsors of terrorism for the "escalating tension" on the peninsula.
"If the United States does not switch its position, chances are high that the DPRK will return to the path of confrontation it followed two years ago," the daily said.
It warned that Washington may face an unpredictable situation if Pyongyang opts to keep reinforcing its self-defensive deterrence capabilities as a nuclear power.
North Korea conducted a nuclear test in October 2006, but later reached an agreement on scrapping its nuclear programs with the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and South Korea. Progress was made in the six-party disarmament talks when the North began disabling its key nuclear facilities and submitted a long-awaited list of its nuclear activities as part of the accord.
But the disarmament process is now in a deadlock over disagreements on how to verify the North's list.
Washington refused to delist Pyongyang until it agrees to a proper verification protocol. Angered by the decision, North Korea announced in late August that it had stopped disablement of its nuclear plants and has reportedly taken initial steps towards restarting its main plutonium-producing reactor at Yongbyon.
