N. Korea: Kim Jong Il attends concert

PYONGYANG, North Korea, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- North Korea's news agency says Kim Jong Il attended a concert, one of a series of recent statements portraying the North Korean leader as active and healthy.

The Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that Kim, who is believed to be recovering from at least one recent stroke, appeared at a performance of North Korea's state orchestra as "the whole audience broke into the rousing cheers of 'hurrah!' and enthusiastically welcomed him," the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph said.

The KCNA report, however, did not specify when the performance by the state symphony orchestra took place, the newspaper said.

Pyongyang has reported such recent activities by Kim, 66, as visits to a soccer match, a military unit, a steel plant, a soap factory and chicken farms. Few of the reports, however, have provided specific dates or have been accompanied by photos, thus making them hard to independently confirm, the Telegraph said.