A French doctor said to have treated Kim Jong-Il has been quoted in a French newspaper as saying that the North Korean leader did have a stroke, but did not undergo an operation.

Francois-Xavier Roux also reportedly told the Le Figaro newspaper that Kim's health was improving.

Roux's comments appeared in the newspaper as the North Korean Central News Agency released undated pictures of what they claim to be one of Kim's most recent outings - a trip to a folk village and a chicken farm.

No dates were given for the visit, but the reports said the North Korean leader urged farmers and officials to "provide the people with more chickens and eggs" and "bring about an epochal turn in agricultural production".

Several pictures of Kim have been released since widespread rumours emerged in mid-August suggesting that he had suffered a stroke, however doubts have been cast over whether the images are current. 

"The photos that have just been published seem recent and authentic to me. I can't say more because of medical confidentiality and state secrecy," Roux told Le Figaro.

"I have the impression that he is in charge in North Korea."

Roux also said that Kim's health was improving. 

Le Figaro said that Roux travelled to Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, in October, but the doctor declined to provide any details of the visit, citing a doctor-patient confidentiality.

South Korean officials have said Kim underwent brain surgery after suffering a stroke in August, raising questions about the leadership of the communist nation as Kim has not publicly named a successor.

Analysts have said many local residents had heard about Kim's suspected illness, even though the government and media avoids any comment that would indicate its "Dear Leader" has been debilitated.