N.K. media release photos of Kim Jong-il inspecting army unit (10 photos; FAKE?)

Yonhap News ^ | 10/11/08

[TigerLikesRooster]

N.K. media release photos of Kim Jong-il inspecting army unit

SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) -- State-run North Korean television on Saturday aired photos of the country's leader Kim Jong-il inspecting a frontline military unit amid ongoing speculation about his frail health.

It marked the first time in 58 days that photos of Kim in public have been broadcast by North Korean news media.

Kim, 66, has been out of the public view since Aug. 14 when he inspected a military unit in the communist state. His conspicuous absence from major events, including one marking the 60th anniversary of the country, triggered speculation about his failing health.

South Korean intelligence officials have said Kim is recovering from a stroke after undergoing brain surgery in mid August. North Korean officials have vehemently denied such statements.

The 10 photos broadcast repeatedly by the North's Korean Central TV show Kim conversing with soldiers, clapping and watching a firing drill in his trademark dark sunglasses and olive green jumper.

He looked to have lost some weight, possibly due to illness, but there was otherwise little change in his appearance.

No video footage has been released by the state broadcaster.

Kim inspected a female artillery company under the People's Army Unit No. 821 to evaluate the company's readiness, attend a firing drill and take photos with soldiers there, the TV report said.

It did not reveal the timing and location of the visit.

But a report from the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 29, 2004 placed the artillery company in a frontline area following a visit by Kim. The leader has visited the company at least four times since 2001, according to the North's media reports.

Earlier on Saturday, the KCNA released a more detailed report on Kim's latest visit but did not carry any photos. It normally provides photos of Kim visiting military units one or two days after the release of articles on the visit.

Kim looked around lecture halls, bed rooms, restaurants and various other facilities of the company to get a better feel for the life of the soldiers, the KCNA report said.

He expressed satisfaction that "the company soldiers are performing their duties with an utmost readiness against the enemy's aggressive movements, which are getting more serious day by day," the report said.

The North Korean leader also evaluated the units' financial management, inspecting tree plantings and grain crops tended to by the female soldiers, according to the report.

North Korea's radio stations, Radio Pyongyang and the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, have since been repeatedly airing the report.

Rodong Shinmun, the most influential newspaper in the country, also carried the report on the front page of Saturday's edition, along with a photo of Kim inspecting the military facility.

North Korean media recently reported Kim watched a soccer game without specifying the date or showing any photos or video images of him. North Korean media usually report Kim's public appearances belatedly without giving specific dates.

Kim's health is the subject of keen attention since he has not publicly nominated any successor and is widely believed to suffer from diabetes and heart disease. He officially took power after his father, state founder Kim Il-sung, died of a heart attack in 1997.

[TigerLikesRooster]

If you see the trees and grass in the background, none of their leaves show brownish hue, even on their tip. Not all trees look like pine trees. There is no known evergreen grass growing in Korea, either. Even here in S. Korea, if you look out and watch trees and grass, you see unmistakable patches of brownish leaves here and there. Some are even bright orange or red. It is fall foliage season in Korea. N. Korea is colder than here. So they should have more of them.

I think these pictures were taken during the warmer days, not on Oct. 10 nor in a recent week or so. These look like recycled photos from previous occasions. They might have assembled them from his previous inspection tours.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[cripplecreek]

Some of those definitely look like they’re recycled with people photoshopped into or out of them.

[nuconvert]

He misses all the important anniversaries and state functions but shows up to inspect troops?
Ridiculous.

[BallyBill]

It looks like he made a visit to ACORN headquarters in some of them photos.

[Past Your Eyes]

Maybe I should send them my Kodak Instamatic camera. It takes better pictures.

[DieHard the Hunter]

“Well, he’s...he’s, ah...probably pining for the fjords.”

[cripplecreek]

[TigerLikesRooster]

Barry, you moron! How dare block my view? What you are doing is way above your pay grade!

[cripplecreek]

And he’s wearing white after labor day.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nobody looks particularly well fed except the Dear Leader.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Yes, everybody looks like wearing over-sized uniform. They are so skinny. However, Chia’s beer belly is straining to break free. His clothes are barely containing him.:-)

[Actually_in_Tokyo]

Good point about the lack of fall colors.

[TigerLikesRooster]

This is the rage of the day on S. Koran Internet. Lots of people noticed the problem with greens.

It is the main stream press which, for some reason, try to sweep this under the carpet.

Anyway, there is something going on in E. Asian neighborhood. Governments know a lot more than they let on, but won't share it with us.

[Joe Boucher]

Looks like one of chia pets stunt doubles.
What a puny little ass clown this killer of his own is.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Here is the KCNA report today, written yesterday. It has the little Frog visting Unit 821 of the Korean Peoples Army.

김정일최고사령관 제821군부대관하 녀성포중대를 시찰 (평양 10월 10일발 조선중앙통신)조선로동당 총비서이시며 조선민주주의인민공화국 국방위원회 위원장이시며 조선인민군 최고사령관이신 위대한 령도자 김정일동지께서는 조선인민군 제821군부대관하 녀성포중대를 시찰하시였다. 김정일동지께서는 중대의 임무수행정형을 료해하시고 군인들의 화력복무훈련을 보시였다. 김정일동지께서는 중대군인들이 날로 우심해지는 적들의 침략책동에 대처하여 고도의 경각성을 가지고 경계근무를 책임적으로 수행하고있으며 일당백의 용사들로 억세게 자라나고있는데 대하여 만족을 표시하시면서 중대의 전투력을 더욱 강화하는데서 나서는 과업들을 제시하시였다. 그이께서는 병영구내를 거니시며 무성하게 자란 갖가지 나무들을 보시고 수림화, 원림화를 훌륭히 실현하였다고 하시면서 녀성군인들이 열렬한 조국애를 지니고 조국의 일목일초를 정성다해 가꾸고있는데 대해 치하하시였다. 김정일동지께서는 이어 교양실, 침실, 식당, 세목장, 부식물창고 등 여러곳을 돌아보시면서 군인들의 사업과 생활을 구체적으로 료해하시였다. 그이께서는 중대군인들이 《훈련도 학습도 생활도 항일유격대식으로！》라는 구호의 요구대로 혁명적이며 전투적인 기백에 넘쳐 생활하고있으며 특히 부업농사에서 많은 성과를 이룩하고있는데 대해 커다란 만족을 표시하시면서 그들의 깐진 살림살이기풍을 높이 평가하시였다. 그이께서는 손에 총을 잡고 조국보위초소에 선 녀성군인들은 나라의 귀중한 보배들이라고 하시면서 군부대지휘관들이 그들의 생활에 특별한 관심을 돌려야 한다고 강조하시였다. 김정일동지께서는 중대군인들과 함께 기념사진을 찍으시였다

Trying to track down an reference to location. But you are right, that is way too Green for early October in North Korea. Even in elevated areas of the Kanto Plain around Tokyo, it is getting yellow, orange and brown these days. And that is in Japan, thousands of miles south of the DPRK!

[TigerLikesRooster]

This is one of the comments somebody had written at the end of the article reporting on Chia Head photo. It might help you to track down its location:

안녕하세요..821군부대는 안변청년발전소 인근에 위치한 부대입니다. 과거 10월 초순 경 동해안 쪽 군부대 시찰시 사진을 보면 나뭇잎 색깔이 변색되어 있습니다. 그리고 더욱 중요한 근거는 사진에 없어야 될 인물이 있다는 것은 이 사진이 10월이전에 찍었을 가능성이 있는 것같은데 전문가 분들께서 확인부탁드립니다.

He says (in the bold highlighted area) that there is a guy in a photo who is not supposed to be there. He did not specify who and which photo. However, my guess is that somebody who is already dead or no longer at the said unit is still shown at the photo.

[AdmSmith]

He is here, check the video:

http://www.reason.tv/video/show/556.html

Obama Kids: Sing for Change (Pyongyang Remix):

[TigerLikesRooster]

In my previous reply, the information you want must be in the first line of my quoted text. The bold highlighted one is providing additional interesting information so I elaborated on it.

Just trying to clear things up.:-)

[nuconvert]

Very good. Though I have to say, the performances of those N. Korean kids are much better than the American kids.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

Thanks!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2103036/posts?page=18#18