N. Korea says leader's public appearances made 'without rest'

SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korean media claimed that Kim Jong-il made
year-round inspections "without rest," not mentioning the months-long interval
during which Kim went unseen amid rumors of his ill health.
Kim made a total of 91 public appearances this year as of Wednesday, slightly up
from the 86 appearances he made in 2007 but continuing a downward trend in the
reclusive leader's public activities in recent years, according to monitored
reports from Pyongyang.
Seoul and Washington officials say Kim suffered a stroke in mid-August and is now
recovering. Kim "is alive, and he remains in control of the North Korean
government," Adm. Timothy Keating of the U.S. Pacific Command said last week.
"Since he guided on the spot the workers in their work for constructing the
Ryesonggang Power Station on a cold and windy day in the beginning of the year,
he has covered without rest the road of field guidance," the North's state-run
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Tuesday.
"He has continued on-the-spot guidance without interruption defying the intense
cold of the midwinter and the blazing sunlight and rainy days of midsummer," it
said.
Since reports of a military inspection by Kim released in mid-August, North
Korean media had been silent about his whereabouts until Oct. 11, when they
announced a visit to a female soldiers' unit and released photos. But the images
appeared outdated as background foliage suggested they were taken in summer.
In following photos, the 66-year-old leader's left hand appeared in an unnatural
position either resting on his lap or inside his pocket. In the latest batch of
images released the past week, Kim was seen wearing a pair of gloves, a fur hat
and a silver parka as he appeared to be inspecting industrial factories in the
remote northern province of Jagang.
The number of Kim's inspections peaked with 123 visits in 2005, after which he
has appeared less frequently in public. In 2006, his public activity was reported
99 times, followed by 86 in 2007. This year, six of the 91 visits were reported
last week.
It was not certain whether Kim made the six visits separately or whether the
media outlets were stretching out a shorter visit as the leader is wearing the
same outfit in all the latest photos. The North Korean media has not specified
dates for those visits.
Kim's health has been a subject of keen attention as he has not publicly
nominated a successor. He took power after his father and North Korea's founder
Kim Il-sung died in 1994 and is believed to have diabetes and heart problems.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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