North Korea has released what it claims are new pictures of its leader, Kim Jong Il.

They show the Dear Leader, who is believed to be recovering from brain surgery after having a stroke, at machinery and soap-making factories.

The hermit kingdom denies he fell ill but did not provide an exact date of the visits.

In the images, the North Korean leader, who was wearing a brown coat and sunglasses, looked healthy.

The report is the latest KCNA report about Kim's public appearances.

The last photos, sent on November 16, said he attended cultural performances by the military.

Kim's health is of keen interest to the West because he rules the isolated, nuclear-armed nation with absolute authority and has not publicly named a successor.

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