Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-il today met Wang Jiarui, a high ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party, who is in Pyongyang. The face to face encounter between Kim and the Beijing envoy was reported by Chinese state agency Xinhua.
It was the North Korean “dear leader’s” first encounter since he suffered a suspected stroke in August, since when he has not appeared at any major events, feeding rumours of his health conditions. North Korean media yesterday published a series of photos of Kim’s visit factories and army barracks without, however specifying when they took place, further increasing doubts about their authenticity.
In recent days hypothesis on the succession to power in North Korea have multiplied, spurred on by Japanese and South Korean media who have both indicated the eldest and third born son of Kim Jong-Il as possible heirs to the command.
Some international political experts link this meeting to the recent inauguration of Barack Obama in the United States. A strong message was sent by the US leader and his new administration, but not necessarily a hostile one. In a New Year’s address the North Korean administration in fact, there are no direct accusation towards America as had happened in the past.
