ID :
22721
Sun, 10/05/2008 - 22:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22721
The shortlink copeid
N. Korean leader Kim seen in public since illness: report
(ATTN: CHANGES headline; UPDATES with details throughout)
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has saw a soccer game, the first public appearance since speculation arose that he had suffered a stroke, the communist state's news agency reported Saturday.
The 66-year-old Kim, who reportedly have had surgery after suffering from
cerebral hemorrhaging in August enjoyed a college football match, according to
the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"After watching the match, leader Kim Jong-il congratulated the players on their
good results, saying that the revolutionary and militant students in our country
are good at art and sporting activities," the North's KCNA news agency reported.
Kim reportedly suffered a stroke in mid-August and underwent brain surgery which
forced him to miss a key national event last month marking the 60th founding
anniversary of the communist country.
Kim's absence prompted rampant speculation in the world on the leader's health.
North Korean government officials denied the reports about Kim's ill health.
South Korea's main intelligence agency and a key presidential aide had said that
Kim has recovered well enough to brush his teeth on his own and to stand with
some assistance.
He has been out of the public view for more than a month, his last appearance
being on Aug. 14 when he reportedly inspected a North Korean military unit.
Kim's 51-day absence from the public eye is the longest stretch since 2003 when
he quit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and didn't have any public
engagements for 49 days.
The outside world, including South Korea, has been keenly interested in Kim's
health due to his country's nuclear ambitions.
In a 2007 aid-for-denuclearization deal with the United States, South Korea,
China, Japan and Russia, North Korea began disabling its Yongbyon nuclear complex
late last year in anticipation of one million tons of fuel aid.
But North Korea has recently been backtracking from the deal, blaming the United
States for breaking its promise by not removing the North from a terrorist
blacklist, despite Pyongyang's nuclear declaration and the blowing up of a
cooling tower at Yongbyon in June.
Kim's reappearance came as the communist state ended talks with a U.S. nuclear
envoy who went to Pyongyang this week trying to prevent the North from restarting
its nuclear plant.
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has saw a soccer game, the first public appearance since speculation arose that he had suffered a stroke, the communist state's news agency reported Saturday.
The 66-year-old Kim, who reportedly have had surgery after suffering from
cerebral hemorrhaging in August enjoyed a college football match, according to
the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"After watching the match, leader Kim Jong-il congratulated the players on their
good results, saying that the revolutionary and militant students in our country
are good at art and sporting activities," the North's KCNA news agency reported.
Kim reportedly suffered a stroke in mid-August and underwent brain surgery which
forced him to miss a key national event last month marking the 60th founding
anniversary of the communist country.
Kim's absence prompted rampant speculation in the world on the leader's health.
North Korean government officials denied the reports about Kim's ill health.
South Korea's main intelligence agency and a key presidential aide had said that
Kim has recovered well enough to brush his teeth on his own and to stand with
some assistance.
He has been out of the public view for more than a month, his last appearance
being on Aug. 14 when he reportedly inspected a North Korean military unit.
Kim's 51-day absence from the public eye is the longest stretch since 2003 when
he quit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and didn't have any public
engagements for 49 days.
The outside world, including South Korea, has been keenly interested in Kim's
health due to his country's nuclear ambitions.
In a 2007 aid-for-denuclearization deal with the United States, South Korea,
China, Japan and Russia, North Korea began disabling its Yongbyon nuclear complex
late last year in anticipation of one million tons of fuel aid.
But North Korea has recently been backtracking from the deal, blaming the United
States for breaking its promise by not removing the North from a terrorist
blacklist, despite Pyongyang's nuclear declaration and the blowing up of a
cooling tower at Yongbyon in June.
Kim's reappearance came as the communist state ended talks with a U.S. nuclear
envoy who went to Pyongyang this week trying to prevent the North from restarting
its nuclear plant.
