On Wednesday, Pyongyang released this photograph of its "Dear Leader," Kim Jong-il — appearing at the center of a military battalion. This, despite widespread rumors that the North Korean dictator is gravely ill, or dead even.

The BBC has analyzed the photograph and now reports that the photo may very well be doctored. A close-up view of the image shows mismatched pixels between "Dear Leader's" feet and those standing next to him. 

The suspicions about Mr Kim's health have gathered force since about mid-August, amid a sudden lull in news reports and official images released by the official North Korean news agency, the KCNA.

His disappearance sparked suggestions he was undergoing brain surgery for a stroke or even that he had died.
  
In an apparent bid to stop the rumours, Pyongyang has recently released a succession of images and news stories which purportedly show the leader in good health.

 

 

 

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