North Korea marks ruling party anniversary, Kim doesn't show

(ATTN: UPDATES with Kim's absence in first four paras; TRIMS; CHANGES headline)
SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea quietly celebrated the 63rd founding anniversary of its ruling party Friday without its reclusive leader making an appearance.

Rumors that Kim Jong-il's health is failing have swirled since mid-August. His
condition is the subject of international concern, especially given recent
progress in efforts to denuclearize the communist state.
North Korean media outlets have not reported an appearance by Kim at any of
Friday's events marking the anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.
Instead, the North's propaganda machines urged their people rebuild the country's
moribund economy by uniting under the 66-year-old leader.
"We, with the great power of unity, must exert an all-out struggle to achieve the
great goal of building an economic power that was put forward by the party,"
announced the Rodong Sinmun, the North's most influential newspaper, in an
editorial commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the Workers' Party.
Experts say Kim, who is reportedly recovering from a stroke after undergoing
brain surgery last month, may still show up at events to mark the anniversary to
prove he is still in control.
"We should launch an aggressive struggle and make a storm of leaps in all fields
of the socialist construction with a strong belief and optimism in the future of
a strong and prosperous country," the report said.
North Korea has vowed since late last year to rebuild its economy by 2012 on the
100th birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung.
The newspaper of the Workers' Party claimed a breakthrough in efforts to become
an economic power this year, as it strived to mark the 60th anniversary of the
communist regime with increased industrial output.
Other state media have reported that high-ranking officials of the North Korean
government and military visited Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the
embalmed body of the late leader is laid in state, to pay tribute in celebration
of the anniversary.
The officials laid a flower basket before a stature of the elder Kim, with a
ribbon saying "The Great Leader, Comrade Kim Il-sung will be immortal," the
North's official Korean Central News Agency said.
Recalling the 63-year-long history of the party, the Rodong Shinmun also said the
watertight unity between the party, military and the people under the "energetic"
leadership of "Great General" Kim Jong-il made it possible for the country to
survive the collapse of the Soviet Union.
North Korea "firmly defended socialism and opened a grand era of the construction
of a strong and prosperous country amid vicious anti-DPRK schemes by the U.S.
imperialists and their allies and a huge economic difficulty," the daily claimed.
It is a "miracle" only achieved by the country's "Beloved General," it stressed.
The North Korean leader is believed to have attended a student football match
last Saturday after disappearing from the pubic view for some 50 days, according
to the North's state media. No photos or video footage, however, has been
released.
Kim's conspicuous absence from a parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the
regime last month fueled speculation on his health.
(END)