SEOUL, KOREA: Doubts have been raised over newly released photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il that were aired by the North’s KCTV on 12 Oct.

The photos were the first to be released in nearly two months and came out on the day the US announced that it has removed Pyongyang from the list of terrorism sponsoring states.

Kim, 66, has been out of public view since 14 Aug. He did not appear at national events, including the 60th anniversary of the regime’s foundation on 9 Sept, stoking speculation that he is seriously ill.

The rumour was addressed somewhat on 4 Oct, when the North’s media outlets reported that he had attended a university soccer match.

The North’s KCTV showed 10 photos of Kim inspecting a female artillery unit. The pictures were repeatedly featured by other broadcasters and newspapers over the weekend.

It did not reveal the timing or location. But Seoul intelligence officials say trees and grass in the background indicated the pictures may have been taken in the summer.

Seoul officials have said that Kim suffered a stroke and underwent brain surgery in mid-August. North Korea denies this claim.

Wearing his trademark dark sunglasses and khaki jumpsuit in the pictures, he looks normal as he converses with soldiers and watches a firing drill.

He looked thinner than before but showed no signs of critical illness, experts say.

Kim did not show up for the festivities celebrating the anniversary of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party on 10 Oct. (By HWANG JANG-JIN/ The Korea Herald/ AsiaNews)