Friday, 18 February 2005SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has made his first appearance before the general public in two
months and, instead of a typical visit to a military base, he went to see Russian dancing girls, the Korean Central News
Agency says.
Kim on Thursday went to see a performance of Russia's Beriozka Dancing Troupe, the North's KCNA reported. The
dancers presented Kim with a bouquet of flowers and the adoring North Korean audience broke into a song praising
Kim as the curtain went up, the official news agency said.
"Put on the stage were such colourful pieces as female group dances, ... and mixed group dances in memory of
defenders of the motherland," KCNA said on Friday.
South Korean officials who monitor North Korean media said Kim was reported visiting a factory in early January
and the last time he reportedly made an appearance before general public was on December 4, 2004 when he
attended a symphony orchestra.
Kim was nowhere to be found on Wednesday when North Koreans celebrated the 63rd birthday of their "Dear
Leader" with fireworks over his reputed mountain birthplace and sing-songs to praise his military brilliance.
Kim makes few public appearances but official media offer occasional reports of his visits to inspire factory workers
or to instil troops with a great fighting spirit when he inspects military units.
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Friday, 18 February 2005
Reuters via Swissinfo
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