No Unusual Activities Detected in North Korea
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee said Thursday that he has received no reports showing unusual activity in the North Korean military.
At a meeting of the National Assembly's defense committee, Lee said he ordered the military to strengthen surveillance at the inter-Korean border but won't elevate the level of defense readiness against a possible North Korean attack.
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP), meanwhile, plans to set up a special committee to deal with what will come next after surgery on North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, a party spokesman said.
Minister Lee showed lawmakers satellite images of a medical center in Pyongyang, where Kim is presumed to be receiving treatment.
``An increasing number of vehicles have gone in and out of the medical center since the middle of last month. The images suggest Kim might have collapsed in mid-August,'' he said.
On Wednesday, National Intelligence Service Director Kim Sung-ho said in a report to lawmakers that he has information suggesting Kim has undergone surgery for a stroke but is recovering.
``His health is not good enough to engage in outdoor activities, but he is recovering,'' Kim was quoted as saying by lawmakers. Kim and other intelligence officers denied reports that the North Korean leader is seriously ill.
The North Korean leader missed a military parade in central Pyongyang commemorating the 60th anniversary of the country's founding Tuesday, sparking widespread speculation that he has serious health problems. Kim has not showed up for official events since Aug. 14.
Denying speculation about Kim's health, top North Korean officials, including the North's No.2 leader Kim Yong-nam, said their leader has no health problems.
GNP spokesman Yoon Sang-hyun said that ``unexpected things can happen now in North Korea.''
``We've decided to set up a committee to monitor the North Korean situation and set up contingency measures,'' the spokesman said, emerging from a meeting of the party's decision-making Supreme Council.
At the meeting, GNP Chairman Park Hee-tae said, ``The death of the North Korean leader will put the Korean Peninsula into a turmoil. We have to be prepared for it.''