North Korea's Kim appears on TV

(CNN) -- North Korean television broadcast a series of photos Saturday that it said showed North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, visiting a military facility.

In recent months, Kim's absence from numerous events that he would normally attend raised questions about his health. There have been unconfirmed reports that he may be seriously ill.

The North Korean announcer did not say when Kim's visit to a women's artillery unit took place.

The broadcast came a week after North Korea's KCNA news agency reported that Kim made a rare public appearance at a Pyongyang soccer match. No photos were ever shown of that event.

The 10 photographs aired Saturday showed Kim wearing his trademark green uniform and dark glasses.

The pictures offered no immediate evidence that Kim was not in good health.

The narrator said the female soldiers' "hearts were pounding" because of Kim. One photograph showed a group of uniformed women with broad smiles and their hands appeared to be applauding.

CNN Seoul Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-ae contributed to this report

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