Seoul - The situation in North Korea is stable and Kim Jong Il in firm control of the country despite enduring speculation over his health, a senior South Korean official said Monday.

The political leadership in Pyongyang was stable, Unification Minister Kim Ha Joong said, referring to several reports in the state-controlled North Korean media on public appearances by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

While the large number of reports about Kim's activities towards the end of the year was unprecedented, Kim Ha Joong said that "we should conclude that everything is normal."

South Korean intelligence services reported the leader of the reclusive Stalinist state suffered a stroke in mid-August. The 66-year-old was also rumoured to have undergone brain surgery.

There had been no reports in North Korean media about public appearances by the "Dear Leader" from mid-August to mid-October.

After two months of absence, reports about Kim Jong Il conducting military inspections as well as images of public appearances began to surface. However, it always remained unclear when the events had taken place.

On Monday, North Korean media reported on Kim attending a concert by the state's symphony orchestra.

"When he appeared in the auditorium, the whole audience broke into rousing cheers of 'hurrah!' and enthusiastically welcomed him," the Korean Central News Agency reported. Again, it was not known when the concert was held. (dpa)