Posted on 08/05/2007 9:18:08 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Kim's army visits prompt speculation Sat Aug 4, 10:39 PM ET
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has visited military bases for four straight days, an unusual frequency that has prompted speculation he may be about to make a decision regarding the country's disputed nuclear program.
The visits come ahead of a joint U.S.-South Korean military exercise. On Friday, North Korea denounced the upcoming Aug. 20-21 drill as an "unacceptable provocation."
The North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday that Kim inspected an army unit and expressed satisfaction with its combat readiness. It was the fourth straight day that KCNA reported Kim visiting an army base.
Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's largest newspaper, said the visits may indicate Kim was about to make an important decision, possibly regarding his country's nuclear programs.
North Korea shut down its sole functioning nuclear reactor last month in exchange for energy aid under a deal with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
Kim periodically visits military bases to ensure the loyalty of his troops, the backbone of his iron-fisted rule. But it is unusual for him to make so many visits in such a short time.
"I think the main purpose is to boost the morale of soldiers during vacation season and ahead of" the joint military exercise, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Dongguk University.
North Korea has condemned the annual drill in South Korea as a rehearsal for a northward invasion. The U.S. and South Korea say the exercise, staged since 1975, is defensive.
About 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War which ended in a cease-fire, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war.
Ping!
In this photo taken by North Koreas' official Korean Central News Agency and released by Korea News Service in Tokyo Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, front center, poses with Korean People's Army soldiers belonging to KPA Unit 273 during his inspection in North Korea. The source did not disclose date and dateline in the caption of this photo but KCNA reported this inspection on Friday, Aug. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service)
How does Chia Pet look health wise does look like he may be dying or sick
If North Korea “does something” — I’ll bet China will use the opportunity to take Taiwan.
They may even turn against NK if we agree not to defend the island. That would be a hell of a sacrifice.
How does Chia Pet look health wise does look like he may be dying or sick
That look like his double that not real Chia Pet I don’t think
I hear ya,, some of the photos over on yahoo look awful familiar, like ones from quite a few months ago or maybe it’s just me ..
I hope the NKs aren’t trying to pull a ‘fidel’ ..
Lotsa hollow cheeks in that picture.
Is it common for NK females to be so much paler than the men?
good question, not sure how to answer that one. they all look a little rough.
Yeah it seem same old photos to me one of them I think Tiger found on site few months ago that could be DOUBLE
Does Kim normally wear lifts? Doesn’t look like he’s sporting them in this photo.
If I’m not mistaken, some are from when he came out of his last hiatus from the public eye..
Their air force is a toast because chronic fuel shortage led to so little flight time for their warplanes that pilots had little training time in the air.
As it stands now, N. Korea will be more likely to mount non-conventional warfare, a state-scale terrorism: Missile stippled with WMD rain down S. Korean population center, followed by their special force taking entire cities hostage.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il casts his vote for the election of deputies to the provincial, city and country people's assemblies, into a ballot box at a polling station in Hamju county, South Hamgyong province, North Korea, July 29, 2007. This picture was released by the Korea Central News Agency on July 30, 2007. REUTERS/Korea News Service (NORTH KOREA) JAPAN OUT
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