N. Korea stresses 'unity' as Kim recovers

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PYONGYANG, North Korea, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- North Korea state media is emphasizing "unity" at a time when ruler Kim Jong Il reportedly is recovering from a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage, observers say.

The country's official newspaper, the Rodong Shinmun, published a lengthy political discourse Sunday in which it said North Korea's greatest weapon was "the missile of unity" and quoting Kim as saying he would continue the revolutionary struggle, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

"Our mightiest weapon -- the real missile -- is 'the missile of unity.' There are weapons that can destroy missiles, but there is not any weapon that can destroy a crystal made up of tens of millions of hearts," the newspaper said.

After heaping praise on Kim's "limitless devotion" to the country, it quoted him as saying, "It is natural for me to struggle, and of course I would like to rest with my family. However, because our people and soldiers are important to me, I sacrifice my personal life and follow the road of revolution."