(2nd LD) Kim Jong-il visits military unit

(ATTN: COMBINES earlier sent story)
SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il recently visited a
military unit to boost the morale of the troops, the North's media reported
Saturday with photos of him inspecting the unit amid ongoing speculation about
Kim's frail health.
Kim "inspected a female artillery company" to evaluate the company's readiness,
attend a firing drill and take photos with soldiers there, the North's official
Korean Central News Agency reported.
The North's Korean Central TV later showed photos of him inspecting the unit
during its ongoing reports of the news.
The umbrella unit was identified as North Korean People's Armed Forces' Unit 821.
The reports, however, did not reveal when the North Korean leader made the visit,
accompanied by several North Korean generals.
Kim, 66, has been absent from the public stage since Aug. 14, triggering
speculation he is recovering from a stroke and that the North's military is using
his health failure to get tough in multilateral talks on the North's
denuclearization. His conspicuous absence from a parade marking the 60th
anniversary of the country last month fueled the speculation.
North Korean media recently reported Kim watched a soccer game without revealing
the date or showing any photos or video images of him.
North Korean media usually report Kim Jong-il's public appearances belatedly
without giving specific dates.
The KCNA has not yet released photos of Kim visiting the military unit in
question. It normally provides photos of Kim visiting military units one or two
days after the release of articles on the visit.
Kim expressed satisfaction that "the company soldiers are performing their duties
with an utmost readiness against the enemy's aggressive movements which are
getting serious day by day," KCNA reported.
The North Korean leader also evaluated the female soldiers' financial management
of their unit, inspecting tree plantings and grain crops they are tending, the
report said.