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North Korea releases new photos of leader Kim Jong Il
North Korea released a photograph Sunday showing leader Kim Jong Il smiling and watching a football match, the latest apparent attempt to calm intense speculation over the health of the country's absolute ruler.
- AP
- Published: 10:37 November 2, 2008
Seoul: North Korea released a photograph Sunday showing leader Kim Jong Il smiling and watching a football match, the latest apparent attempt to calm intense speculation over the health of the country's absolute ruler.
Kim, 66, reportedly suffered a stroke and underwent brain surgery in August. North Korea has denied he is ill and has in recent weeks released news reports, photos and footage portraying the leader as active and able.
On Sunday, the North's state television showed an undated still photo of what it said is Kim watching a football match between two army-affiliated teams and talking with people, according to the South Korean Unification Ministry, which has copied the image from the broadcast.
The photo shows Kim sitting with other people and watching something from what appears to be a special viewing stand. Kim is shown smiling, wearing his trademark sunglasses with a brown jacket and black pants, but scenes of any football match are not visible.
Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyeon said his ministry has begun analysing the photos with outside experts. He declined to provide details.
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