This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7710725.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New images of North Korean leader Kim schedule 'returns to normal'
(about 17 hours later)
North Korea has released new pictures of its little-seen leader Kim Jong-il, in an apparent bid to prove to the world that he remains in good health.North Korea has released new pictures of its little-seen leader Kim Jong-il, in an apparent bid to prove to the world that he remains in good health.
In the images, Mr Kim is seen posing with soldiers during a visit to two military units. State media later reported Mr Kim had attended a concert in Pyongyang.
Mr Kim's absence from several official events has sparked speculation that he has suffered a stroke or other illness. The recent barrage of images and reports about Mr Kim indicate a "return to normal" activity, a South Korean official said, after a prolonged lull.
The news comes a day after South Korea said its isolated northern neighbour was building a large new missile base. Mr Kim's absence from the public eye sparked speculation that he had suffered a stroke or other illness.
The South's Defence Minister Lee Sang-hee told parliament the base was under construction at Tongchang-ri, near the border with China, and was 80% complete. The answer is no French brain surgeon Francois-Xavier Roux, asked whether he had secretly flown to Pyongyang to treat Kim Jong-il "When there weren't any [reports] for about 80 days, that's when it was abnormal," said a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, Kim Ho-nyeon.
It appeared to have been designed to fire rockets more advanced than North Korea's existing arsenal, Mr Lee said. In the images released on Wednesday, Mr Kim is seen posing with soldiers during a visit to two military units.
The answer is no French brain surgeon Francois-Xavier Roux, asked whether he had secretly flown to Pyongyang to treat Kim Jong-il North Korea currently has about 800 ballistic missiles. In theory, the most advanced is the Taepodong-2, with a range of up to 4,300km (2,700 miles) - but when tested in 2006, the missile blew up seconds into flight. In the concert reported on Thursday, he enjoyed operatic renditions of May the Motherland Prosper" and other patriotic songs, reported North Korea's KCNA news agency. However, no specific date was given for either event.
North Korea has long used its weaponry - both conventional and nuclear - as a bargaining chip to secure greater concessions from its five negotiating partners, chiefly the US, say correspondents. The news comes after South Korea said its isolated northern neighbour was building a large new missile base.
Despite many stops and starts, a deal agreed in February 2007 which sees the North receive aid and political concessions in exchange for disabling its nuclear plant remains in place.
Surgeon 'did visit Pyongyang'Surgeon 'did visit Pyongyang'
In the latest pictures to be released by North Korea's KCNA news agency, Mr Kim is shown visiting two units in the country's huge million-strong army. He is wearing his trademark sunglasses, and looks in relatively good health, with no discernable weight loss and a full head of hair - as he appears in images released on Sunday. In the pictures released by KCNA on Wednesday, Mr Kim is shown visiting two units in the country's huge million-strong army. He is wearing his trademark sunglasses, and looks in relatively good health, with no discernable weight loss and a full head of hair - as he does in images released last Sunday.
Mr Kim also looked well in images released on SundayMr Kim is wearing a pale parka jacket suitable for the autumn weather, but KCNA gave no indication of where or when the pictures were taken.Mr Kim also looked well in images released on SundayMr Kim is wearing a pale parka jacket suitable for the autumn weather, but KCNA gave no indication of where or when the pictures were taken.
Observers have suggested previous images may have been taken months before their release, adding further fuel to the speculation over Mr Kim's health.Observers have suggested previous images may have been taken months before their release, adding further fuel to the speculation over Mr Kim's health.
Some South Korean newspapers say Mr Kim is not shown using his left hand and suggest this may be due to stroke-induced paralysis.Some South Korean newspapers say Mr Kim is not shown using his left hand and suggest this may be due to stroke-induced paralysis.
Meanwhile, Japan's Fuji Television reported that a top French brain surgeon had admitted flying to Pyongyang, but had repeated denials that he had treated Mr Kim.Meanwhile, Japan's Fuji Television reported that a top French brain surgeon had admitted flying to Pyongyang, but had repeated denials that he had treated Mr Kim.
Francois-Xavier Roux, head of neurosurgery at Sainte-Anne hospital in Paris, had previously admitted visiting Beijing but denied flying on to the North Korean capital.Francois-Xavier Roux, head of neurosurgery at Sainte-Anne hospital in Paris, had previously admitted visiting Beijing but denied flying on to the North Korean capital.
However, when Fuji showed him footage of him boarding a Pyongyang-bound plane in Beijing, he confirmed the trip, reported news agency AFP.However, when Fuji showed him footage of him boarding a Pyongyang-bound plane in Beijing, he confirmed the trip, reported news agency AFP.
But asked whether he had treated Mr Kim, 66, Dr Roux said: "The answer is no."But asked whether he had treated Mr Kim, 66, Dr Roux said: "The answer is no."
Mr Kim's health is the subject of such frenzied speculation because of the lack of any public plan for his succession, and fears over a consequent power vacuum in the nuclear-armed nation.Mr Kim's health is the subject of such frenzied speculation because of the lack of any public plan for his succession, and fears over a consequent power vacuum in the nuclear-armed nation.
Any internal breakdown in order could have serious consequences for the region, not least for North Korea's neighbours - South Korea, China and Russia.Any internal breakdown in order could have serious consequences for the region, not least for North Korea's neighbours - South Korea, China and Russia.
'New base'
The South's Defence Minister Lee Sang-hee told parliament a new missile base was under construction at Tongchang-ri, near North Korea's border with China, and was 80% complete.
It appeared to have been designed to fire rockets more advanced than North Korea's existing arsenal, Mr Lee said.
North Korea currently has about 800 ballistic missiles. In theory, the most advanced is the Taepodong-2, with a range of up to 4,300km (2,700 miles) - but when tested in 2006, the missile blew up seconds into flight.
North Korea has long used its weaponry - both conventional and nuclear - as a bargaining chip to secure greater concessions from its five negotiating partners, chiefly the US, say correspondents.
Despite many stops and starts, a deal agreed in February 2007 which sees the North receive aid and political concessions in exchange for disabling its nuclear plant remains in place.