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Kim visits, MPs fight in Koreas' new year

KIM Jong Il, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, paid a New Year's visit to soldiers from a leading tank unit in his first reported public appearance of 2009, state-run media said yesterday.

The dispatch did not specify the exact location of Kim's military visit but said the leader "congratulated service persons on the new year."

A photo released by the Korean Central News Agency showed Kim peering out of a window, a pair of binoculars on the table before him.

Kim, 66, is believed to have suffered a stroke in August. His failure to appear at a parade marking North Korea's 60th anniversary ?? and his subsequent disappearance from the public eye for some 50 days ?? sparked speculation about his health.

North Korea denies the reports and since early October has sent a steady stream of photos and footage of Kim chronicling what appears to be a busy tour of military units, farms and factories.

In Seoul, capital of the Republic of Korea, some opposition law makers and security guards scuffled yesterday as authorities tried to clear legislators from occupying the parliament.

The MPs have been camped out for nine days in a standoff with President Lee Myung-bak's ruling party over the progress of new legislation.

Democratic Party law makers have been trying to stop the conservatives from approving dozens of measures, including ratifying a free trade pact with the United States.

Scores of guards tried to force the law makers to leave yesterday, touching off a scuffle, said Cho Jeong-sik, a spokesman for the Democrats. One legislator was taken to a nearby hospital for a minor injury.



 

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