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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting of battalion commanders and political instructors of the country's troops without a walking stick in Pyongyang. The Korean Central News Agency released the photo on Wednesday. Kim recently had ankle surgery and used the stick in his public activities since his return on Oct. 13. / Yonahp |
By Lee Min-hyung
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made his first public appearance without a cane, since first appearing with one in recent weeks, during a meeting with senior military officials, the country's state media reported Wednesday.
Kim convened the two-day meeting from Monday to encourage battalion commanders, calling for them to make more efforts to strengthen the North's military power, according to the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).
"The first thing soldiers have to do is to become much stronger in thoughts and morality, thereby better understanding the nation's politics," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
The North's mouthpiece Rodong Shinmun also released photos of Kim walking without a cane. Kim had been seen walking and sitting with a cane since he appeared last month after a 40-day absence from the public eye.
There have been rumors about the young dictator's health. Some experts said he recently made a series of public appearances to counter that speculation.
Kim said during his speech that North Korea's military should prioritize hard training, and this should apply to all units, according to the KCNA.
"No judges are stricter or harsher than a war. Lack of training can never be an excuse in case of the war," he was quoted as saying.
He also stressed the need to improve soldiers' welfare to build a stronger military force.
"Every military unit has to be rich, and soldiers should always be provided with enough food and comfortable shelter," he added.
Late last month, South Korea's spy agency said Kim was recovering from surgery to remove a cyst from his right ankle.
