Kim Jong Il Makes Rare Television Appearance (VIDEO)

North Korea has broadcast a rare video of leader Kim Jong-il attending a massive rally marking the reopening of a textile factory on Saturday.

Kim, who is suspected of having had a stroke in 2008, is rarely shown in videos. In the video he is shown waving to a huge crowd. He does not appear to have spoken at the rally.

North Korea "is sure to win a final victory in the drive for building a thriving nation as long as there are the ever-victorious Songun (military-first) leadership of Kim Jong-il and the large contingent of heroic workers like those in the vinalon industry," Thae Jong-su, a senior Workers' Party official, told the rally, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

The factory, which had apparently shut due to hard times in the 1990s , had recently reopened. South Korean media reported that Kim's appearance seemed to occur in the hope of soothing public fears about the North Korean economy.

WATCH:

Comments

[santiago sherwood]

04:40 PM on 03/09/2010

As much as we joke about the Deer leader, Do we know anything about his potential successor? I have no idea what kind of person we are in for?

[Homecreek]

01:27 PM on 03/09/2010

America Circa 2029. During the O's 6th term!!

[waldopepper]

01:01 PM on 03/09/2010

Poor Kim. He wouldn't be so ronely if only he got out more and strutted his money maker.

[Corpsman Up]

10:25 AM on 03/09/2010

Poor Barry, every time he sees footage of Dear Leader he gets so jealous. If only those pesky conservati­ves would let him have his way, he too could be worshipped in this way.

[Rock Brasiliano]

08:06 AM on 03/09/2010

People get the government they deserve...­.mindless masses cheering their little leader.

[infidel2]

09:26 AM on 03/09/2010

Agreed, but it's also easier to brainwash starving masses.

[Hirnlego]

05:29 AM on 03/09/2010

""NK is sure to win a final victory in the drive for building a thriving nation"
LOLZ

[LMPE]

12:19 AM on 03/09/2010

That voice on the loudspeake­r almost sounded like a cantor.

I wonder what Kim Jong Il would think of bagels and blintzes.

[billbb]

02:30 PM on 03/09/2010

He'd think it was all a capitalist plotz!

[hibeam]

10:39 PM on 03/08/2010

This dude is the most successful blackmaile­r in history. Kim baby, what can we give you to play nice? Just build more bombs and we will ship hundreds of tons of oil and food your way. Why would you stop?

[iceburg]

09:45 PM on 03/08/2010

Stalin's Soviet Union, Mao's China (and perhaps China today as well) and this little man's North Korea are of the same origin.

[chuck prebys]

08:40 PM on 03/08/2010

Doesn't he look like such a nice young man.

[HogWash2]

09:44 PM on 03/08/2010

You look holier than thou. Looks are deceiving.

[chuck prebys]

10:48 PM on 03/08/2010

That's the blessed St. Ronnie, baby.
Soon to be on the $50 bill I hear.
Why not?
His policies made the 50 the new 20!!

[UncleJimbo]

08:05 PM on 03/08/2010

That's just the Plastic Puppet from "Team America:Wo­rld Police"!

[mopickens]

04:49 PM on 03/08/2010

he's a delusional idiot - I love to watch him though, he manipulate­s the rest of the world like we are his puppets, forever frightened that he will launch a missle in our direction - I can understand South Korea's problem with him as he is next door and has the capability to harm them - source a photo of the earth at night, you will see that North Korea is completely dark, its people mired in poverty and hunger while Kim pursues his very own seven sins.

[HogWash2]

09:42 PM on 03/08/2010

The people seem to love him.

Countries try to manipulate which manipulati­on does not work in any relationsh­ip.

[herecomes]

04:05 PM on 03/08/2010

OMG GREAT LEAADERR

[Spencaa]

05:46 PM on 03/08/2010

IT'S DEAR, DEAR LEADER. OMG LUV YA LEADER

[santiago sherwood]

07:45 PM on 03/08/2010

DEER in the headlights leader