SEOUL : North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has attended a concert by the State Symphony Orchestra, state media said early Monday, in the latest reported public appearance by the communist leader said to be recovering from illness.

The official Korean Central News Agency said senior officials from the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and army generals also attended the performance but did not say when it took place.

KCNA said the audience cheered when Kim appeared in the auditorium for the performance of various patriotic orchestral works, such as "Blue Sky Over My Country" and "Rich Harvest Comes to the Chongsan Plain".

South Korean and US officials have said the 66-year-old Kim suffered a stroke in mid-August. Seoul officials said he has made a good recovery, and both US and South Korean officials say he is still in control of the country.

Kim's health is the subject of intense interest since he has not publicly nominated a successor to rule the nuclear-armed communist state.

Kim has a history of diabetes and heart disease, Seoul officials say.

North Korea's state media carried no reports between August 14 and October 4 of Kim's public appearances.

But the media have reported Kim's trips to a variety of destinations in recent weeks and have published photographs, in an apparent attempt to show that he is active and in charge.

KCNA reports on Sunday said Kim had visited air force and army units.

- AFP/vm