Seoul - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il visited two factories recently, state media reported Tuesday, after speculation by foreign media that the reclusive leader had suffered a stroke.

The 66-year-old leader visited a machinery plant and cosmetics factory in the western city of Sinuiju on the border with China, North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. No date was given for the visits.

KCNA also published two pictures which show a seemingly healthy Kim in a brown overcoat and sunglasses.

Kim praised the machinery factory for fulfilling its assignments for this year "as of the end of October" and offered praise to the workers, according to state media.

The South Korean secret service reported that Kim suffered a stroke in mid-August and underwent brain surgery, though North Korea denied he fell ill.

For two months there was no word on Kim's activities, but in mid-October the KCNA again started to report various public appearances and publish photos, such as a cultural performance by the military he attended in mid-November.

The photos of Kim, who runs the isolated nuclear-armed Communist nation with absolute authority, were released the day after North Korea announced it was suspending cross-border traffic with South Korea in retaliation against the tough policies of Seoul's new conservative government. (dpa)