North Korea's Kim Jong-Il Returns to Public Eye

by Rachel Nixon | April 9, 2009 at 09:39 am

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has appeared made his first major appearance since his suspected stroke last year.

Mr Kim presided over a session of the North Korean parliament. His appearance comes just days after the country launched a long-range rocket, to widespread international condemnation.

TV pictures showed him attending a parliamentary session where he was re-elected as North Korean leader.

The session coincides with a separate announcement that North Korea is to revise its constitution.

No details have yet been given, but there is speculation that the changes might be linked to who succeeds Mr Kim.

He has no obvious successor, and rumours of his illness last year led to international concerns about the country's long-term stability.

He was reappointed as leader of North Korea by the 687-member Supreme People's Assembly. He has ruled the nation with absolute authority since his father's death in 1994.

Television images of the session in Pyongyang’s Mansudae Assembly Hall showed the leader, 68, who U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials say suffered a stroke in August, looking gaunt and frail.

Mr Kim was wearing his khaki military suit as usual but appeared older and thinner than in his last appearance nine months ago.