Kim Jong-il is definitely looking much healthier now a days much to the glee of the Hankyoreh:

In this photo distributed by China’s official Xinhua news agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, right, shakes hands with Wang Jiarui, left, head of the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department, in Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, on Friday January 23, 2009.(AP Photo/Xinhua, Zhang Binyang)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met Friday with Wang Jiarui, head of the Chinese Communist Party’s International Liaison Department, during the latter’s visit to North Korea, the Chinese government-run Xinhua News Agency reported in its Pyongyang news.

This is Kim’s first meeting with a foreign envoy since last September, when rumors of the North Korean leader’s ill health were presented. Some are interpreting the meeting as a kind of “political formality” demonstrating to people inside and outside the nation that Kim has recovered enough to normalize overseas activities. North Korea previously publicized photos of Kim engaged in public activity within North Korea, inspecting military units, farms and factories. Intelligence authorities have been predicting that Kim would opt for direct contact with the outside world, such as the greeting of a foreign guest, as the next step in demonstrating his health.

The news agency made no reference to the specific content of the discussions between Kim and Wang, but some are speculating that Wang likely communicated a New Year’s message to Kim from Chinese President Hu Jintao. The two nations have designated 2009, the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, as their “Year of Friendship” and are preparing a variety of events. Arrangements may also have taken place for a visit to China by Kim or a visit to North Korea by Hu.  [Hankyoreh]

Since the Chinese Xinhua news agency is spreading this picture I think this is much more reliable than the prior pictures of Kim Jong-il after the stroke that were released by the North Korean media.