NORTH KOREA has released new photographs of “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il touring a factory, after reports this week that the 67-year-old had pancreatic cancer and fewer than five years to live.
There has been a lot of speculation about Mr Kim’s health because he rules absolutely, and there could be a power struggle in the dangerously unstable state if he should die without specifying a successor.
There are strong indications that Kim Jong-un, Mr Kim’s youngest son, is the most likely heir apparent.
The photographs seem to show the leader in apparently good health, wearing sunglasses and a short-sleeved shirt. He appears thin but has done for a long time, say seasoned Korea watchers, since the stroke he suffered last summer.
The images were carried by North Korean TV and the official Korean Central News Agency, and show Mr Kim walking around a newly built tile factory, smiling broadly and applauding. The photos were undated, but KCNA had sent a text report about the tour on Monday without specifying the date of the visit.
In other pictures Mr Kim is sitting in a chair under a sunshade, which may be a clue that his health is waning. Despite his health issues, Mr Kim has had a busy year – he has made 82 factory visits to date this year, compared with 57 visits made during the same period last year, according to the Unification Ministry in Seoul.
Meanwhile, the top US military commander in South Korea said US and South Korean forces are prepared for “anything North Korea can throw at us”, regardless of the state of Mr Kim’s health or of North Korean politics.
General Walter “Skip” Sharp said Mr Kim should stop threatening the world with nuclear and missile tests, and instead take care of his people and follow commitments he made in the past to abandon nuclear weapons.
The US and North Korea’s neighbours are working to enforce sanctions imposed by the United Nations to punish North Korea for its nuclear test in May.
There are also moves afoot to get the North to resume stalled six-nation negotiations on nuclear disarmament.
The North has threatened a “thousand-fold” military retaliation against the US and its allies if provoked, and has thousands of missiles pointing at Seoul.
Gen Sharp said he was confident the US forces could track and shoot down these missiles.