N Korea releases 'healthy' Kim Jong-Il photos
- 00:00:44
- ITN
N Korea releases 'healthy' Kim Jong-Il photos
North Korean state television has aired photographs of leader Kim Jong-il purportedly watching a football match. 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 their leader as active and able. The release of the undated photos by North Korea's state media, was first reported by South Korean Yonhap news agency. The North Korean state broadcaster KRT, said the images were of Kim watching a football match between two army-affiliated teams, Yonhap reported. The KRT newsreader said: "Kim Jong-il, supreme commander of the Korean people's Army, together with service persons of the KPA watched a football match between Mangyoungbong and Jebi teams of the KPA." During the broadcast, Kim is shown talking to a group of people near a grassy field in some images, and in another image he is seen smiling and watching something from inside what appears to be a building, or stand. Images released by KRT in Sunday's broadcast show North Korea leader wearing his trademark brown jacket and sunglasses in the photos. Separate photos also on the broadcast show stand-alone scenes of a football match. The date, location or authenticity of the photos has not been independently verified.
ITN | November 2, 2008
