Seoul  - North Korea's state-controlled media on Sunday released photos of national leader Kim Jong Il appearing in public at a football match as speculation persists about his health.

The 66-year-old watched a match between two army teams accompanied by high-ranking officials of the ruling communist Korean Workers' Party and military representatives and congratulated the players after the game, said the Korean Central News Agency, which also published a photo of North Korea's leader.

Korean Central TV aired 14 photographs of Kim at the game, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

The date and location of the match was not released.

North Korean television showed photos of Kim for the first time in nearly two months in mid-October. South Korean government officials said, however, that they believed the pictures had not been taken this autumn.

South Korean intelligence officials said they believe Kim suffered a stroke in mid-August, and speculation about his health have been fanned by his absence from recent government events, including a parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of North Korea's founding.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday that while Kim's health was poor and he was in hospital, he remained in control of North Korea.

The photo released by the Korean Central News Agency showed Kim wearing dark glasses, a brown jacket and a smile as he sat in what appeared to be a booth for dignitaries. Outside the window were trees that had either lost their leaves or had leaves that had changed to autumn colours.

Kim is believed to have diabetes and heart problems. He took over the reins of power in North Korea in 1994 upon the death of his father, state founder Kim Il Sung. (dpa)