The scale of Kim Jong Il’s public activities have vastly increased this year. There have been no less than twenty confirmed activities to date.
The Ministry of Unification reported on Tuesday, according to an analysis of domestic and international reports, that, “For the first 40 days of this year, Kim Jong Il’s undertook 20 public appearances, which is a remarkable frequency compared to the same period of time for the past decade, when he was out-and-about an average of 8 times.”
Kim Jong Il reportedly took part in seven on-site inspections, including five inspections of economic concerns, in February alone. On the 1st January, he visited the Yesung River Youth-1 Power Plant located in North Hwanghae Province, Dongbong Collective Farm in South Hamkyung Province on the 3rd and the February 8 Vinylon Complex on the 5th.
He continued to the Heungnam Fertilizer Complex on the 7th, the biggest fertilizer factory in North Korea, and on the 8th to the Nakwon Machine Complex.
According to Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA), on the 7th Kim also inspected the 324 Unit of the People’s Army and watched a music and dance performance by the South Hamkyung Arts Troupe.
The reason why Kim Jong Il is actively participating in public activities is presumed to be to head off rumors of his illness, which have been lingering since August of last year.
For much the same reason, Kim displayed his well-being in a five hour-long meeting with Wang Jiarui, leader of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee last month.
It is significant that there has been an increase in Kim’s on-site inspections in the economic field, since it follows the goal of accomplishing a strong and prosperous state by 2012.
Professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University Yoo Ho Yul confirmed the belief that, “It is diplomatically to display Kim’s healthy condition to the outside world and internally to drive his people to achieve the goal of a strong and prosperous state.”
Professor Yoo explained, “Under the condition of foreign aid being reduced due to the nuclear negotiations stalemate, there is no other way to improve the economy but encouraging the people to work harder by Kim Jong Il himself. This is because the only element available for developing North Korea’s economy is the internal one: labor power.”
