Kim Jong Il went to watch performances by the Central Performing Group.
The Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the news on the 6th and, although it reported that Kim attended with North Korean military officers, it did not specify the time or place of the performance.
The performances that day included groups that perform traditional music and dance in North Korea, such as the Merited State Chorus of the People’s Army, Milky-Way Art Troupe, Mansundae Art Troupe, the Sea of Blood Opera Troupe, and the State National Art Troupe. Milky-Way was apparently making their debut.
The performers included a choir, men’s solo and choir, orchestra and choir, female trio, female quartet singers and more, according to the KCNA news.
Kim Jong Il after watching the concert commented, “Newly written songs like “Flourish! Our Nation!” or “It Is Snowing” hold creative significance, and they are masterpieces celebrating the military-first generation.” The KCNA reported that this success obviously represents the legitimacy and vitality of the Party’s policies towards literature and art.
Kim apparently attended the performance along with Choi Tae Bok, Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Jang Sung Taek, director of the Ministry of Administration of the Party, Li Gwang Ho, director of the Central Committee of the Party, Kim Yang Gun, chief of the United Front Department, and generals such as Hyung Cheol Hae and Lee Myung Soo.
The North Korean media has previously reported that Kim Jong Il attended a soccer match and on the 5th, only three days later, inspected two separate military sites and watched the performance with many other people.
North Korea seems to be putting effort into wiping out the rumors of Kim’s weakened health that were spread after he was absent from the 60th anniversary celebrations of September 9th. They wanted to show Kim Jong Il off to the media as being able to walk and perfectly managing the nation even during recuperations.
Especially because it had been pointed out from the previous pictures of the soccer match that Kim Jong Il’s left hand seemed unnatural as it was laid on his lap or put inside his pocket, the newly revealed pictures on the 5th showed him putting his hands out straight, by his side.
Among the 14 pictures released by the KCNA, there are some pictures that indicate his left hand being numb included along with the pictures of him clapping and watching military training with his hands behind his back. There are also pictures of him holding his right arm high above his shoulder while talking to some military officers.
All these pictures seem to be conscious of indications made by South Korea media regarding Kim’s awkward positions during the soccer match. However there still is no picture of Kim holding his left arm up. The pictures of him folding his hands behind his back, walking or clapping are the first for 83 days, the last time being August 14th when he inspected a military site.
In the most recent photos Kim wore a grey jacket, light-brown pants and sunglasses, but wore flat shoes instead of his signature stack-heels.
North Korea, after first reporting on Kim Jong Il’s outside activities, focused in every report on questions raised by the South Korean media
Nevertheless, the military inspection pictures could not hide Kim Jong Il’s weakened health.
Kim Jong Il raised his right arm but did not raise his left arm once. It was noticed when he clapped that his right palm was straight while his left palm was bent. Also when he clapped, he basically held onto his left hand while clapping with his right, which signifies that although not severe there is a bit of numbness in his left hand.
It is expected that North Korea will continue to release pictures taken in military sites near Pyongyang, in order to put all the rumors regarding Kim Jong Il’s weakened health to sleep.
