N. Korea says leader increased public appearances in 2008 amid health rumors

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead, UPDATES story with expert's view, appearance count
slightly different according to monitors, CORRECTS date of Kim's first appearance
since August in 5th para)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il made more inspection
tours this past year than in 2007, despite rumors of his ill health, according to
reports from Pyongyang apparently intended to portray Kim as healthy and still in
power.
Kim made a total of 91 public appearances this year as of Wednesday, slightly up
from the 86 appearances he made in 2007, according to monitored reports from the
North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
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.
"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," the
KCNA said on Tuesday.
Since reports of a military inspection released in mid-August, North Korean media
had been silent about his whereabouts until Oct. 4, when they announced an
undated visit to a soccer game. Images were not released.
Doubts surrounding the reports' authenticity fueled speculation. Images released
in mid-October showed Kim visiting a female solders' unit with the background
foliage suggesting the image may have been 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.
"On-site inspections are the visible form of Kim's governing and a statement that
he can meet the public face to face," Kim Keun-sik, a North Korea specialist at
Seoul's Kyungnam University, said. "With reports of his increased activities,
North Korea is expressing its confidence that Kim can do that and is trying to
dispel the rumors of his ill health at home and abroad."
Kim's industrial inspections have notably increased. He has made a total of 26
visits to factories, farms and technology centers this year, compared to 18 last
year.
Counts of Kim's appearances can differ slightly depending on the monitoring
method. The Unification Ministry placed the number of Kim's inspections at 93,
counting each visit to a different facility in a single report.
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.
In the latest batch of images, Kim was seen wearing a pair of gloves, a fur hat
and a silver parka as he reportedly inspected industrial factories in the remote
northern province of Jagang.
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
(END)