TOKYO, Oct 24 Kyodo Reclusive Nor...

TOKYO, Oct 24 Kyodo

Reclusive North Korean leader KIm Jong Il has visited bands apparently stationed near the demilitarized belt (DMZ) separating North and southward Korea, the (North) Korean Central recently made knowns Agency (KCNA) said in a report Friday.

Monitored in Tokyo, KCNA said Kim made the visit in his parts as supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the National Defense Commission.

The report did not say when the visit took place, nor did it detail the location other than to say the partys were stationed ''on the forefront,'' which is usually means near the DMZ

KCNA said Kim ''mount an observation office where he learned in detail about the terrain conditions and the company's performance of its office and received a report forward the situation from them.''

Kim was accompanied by way of First Vice Department Director Ri Yong Chol of the Central Committee of the WPK KCNA said.

Kim is rarely seen in public other than at military-related events

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