North Korea leader Kim Jong Il makes first public appearance in 50 days

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DPRK National day.

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KCNA's last mention of Kim making a public appearance was in mid-August. While the reports from Pyongyang had Kim sending greetings to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and to Chinese leaders, there had been no mention of him appearing in public until Saturday.

The reports said Kim congratulated the two soccer teams from Kim Il Sung University and the Pyongyang University of Railways afterward.

Kim praised the student athletes, saying: "The revolutionary and militant students in our country are good at art and sporting activities while devoting all their wisdom and enthusiasm to the study of science for the country and the people," KCNA said.