hankyoreh

The North Korean news outlets Korean Central News Agency, Central Television, and the Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed pictures of North Korean National Defence Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il at a football match between North Korean military teams November 2.

This becomes the second time North Korean news outlets have released pictures of Kim since recent rumors that he is in ill health. On October 11, North Korean news media ran a picture purportedly of Kim surveying a military facility.

KCNA reported that Kim watched the closing of the 11th People’s Sport Contest, which began in late September and ended October 31. It showed two pictures, one of Kim in what appeared to be a special viewing section of the sports facility, while the second showed a scene from a football match.

Central Television showed ten pictures. Three were of Kim apparently issuing orders to officials, while the others were of the football competition.

Trees seen in the pictures have the crimson foliage of autumn, and the grass in the stadium is a yellowish brown, making it appear that the pictures are, in fact, recent. Pictures that ran in the North Korean media on October 11 were held suspect by many observers because the trees and other foliage in the background was thick and green, and the suspicion was that they had been taken in the summer, in July or August.

The disclosure of pictures of Kim watching soccer appears to be an attempt to calm any unrest on the part of regular North Koreans resulting from an especially long period without publicized appearances on the leader’s part. It has been some 80 days since Kim’s last confirmed public appearance, on August 14.

KCNA reported that Kim watched the soccer match with key members of the military, including generals Hyon Chol Hae, Ri Myong Su, and Kim Myong Kuk, and the Workers’ Party central committee, including Chang Song Taek, Ri Che Kang, and Ri Jae Il. The fact this was mentioned in the coverage appears to have been part of a desire to demonstrate that Kim is firmly in control of both the North Korean military and the Workers’ Party.

The disclosure of the photograph also appears to be a message to the United States ahead of the presidential election there.

“This news story shows that there exist no problems in the North’s ability to make foreign policy decisions and it shows that the North wants the next U.S. administration to take an active approach to U.S.-North Korea negotiations,” said Kim Sung-bae of the Institute for National Security Strategy.

However, in these latest pictures of him, neither the football match itself nor any of the spectators can be seen in the background. Just as with last month’s pictures of the North Korean leader surveying a North Korean military site, the North Korean media outlets made no mention of where or when the most recent pictures were taken. It is unlikely these latest pictures are going to completely dispel speculation that Kim is in poor health.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]