Kim Jong-il appears in public
Saturday, 04 Oct 2008 16:33
Kim Jong-il has not appeared in public since August
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has made his first public appearance since suffering a stroke in August, according to state run media.
The 66-year-old leader had not been seen since August. At that time US and South Korean officials were reporting that he had suffered a stroke and had undergone brain surgery.
Mr Kim did not appear at a 9th September anniversary parade causing widespread speculation as to the state of his health, but North Korean officials denied he was ill.
North Korea's state news agency, KCNA, reported that Mr Kim watched a football game to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of Kim Il-Sung University, named for his father, the founder of North Korea. Although it is not known when exactly he attended the game.
No-one has been named to succeed Mr Kim as leader of the country in the event of his death, a source of concern given it now has nuclear weapons.
His reported illness has also come at a difficult time in international negotiations over North Korea's nuclear programme.
North Korea agreed last year to give up its nuclear programme in return for aid and diplomatic concessions but the deal has foundered in recent months.