The latest pictures released in North Korea in an attempt to prove that Kim Jong Il is fit as a fiddle have nothing to attach them to the present day. For one, Kim had brain surgery in August, but has a plush head of hair in the latest photos. The Korean Central News Agency claimed that the happy, smiling Kim photos were from a soccer match, but refused to disclose when the supposed match had taken place. More:

“‘After watching the match, Kim Jong-Il congratulated the footballers on their success in the match, expressing great satisfaction over a high level of the game played by them,’ KCNA said.


In the photographs Kim is shown wearing his trademark sunglasses with a brown jacket and black trousers, but there are no scenes of the football match in the same frame as the Korean leader.


Separate pictures released on Sunday showed scenes of a football match.


‘North Koreans are desperately stepping up their efforts to send a message: Mr Kim is doing well. He is firmly in control,’ Kim Yong-Hyun, a professor and North Korean expert at Seoul’s Dongguk University, said.


Last week, Kim failed to attend the funeral of Pak Song-Chol, the vice-president and one of the most senior members of the communist state, according to a South Korean news agency.


The situation further fueled speculation about the North Korean leader’s health which were sparked after he was conspicuously absent from ceremonies to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the state’s founding in September.”

Despite consensus that Kim is ailing, Asian leaders agree that he still is at least technically in control of the government.