North Korea ? The first photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il released in two months show him in a setting very similar to photographs from August.

And the verdant background looks more like summer than autumn, adding to uncertainty about Kim’s health after reports he underwent brain surgery.

North Korea released the undated still photos and video frame grabs Saturday accompanying a report by North Korean television that Kim visited an all-female military unit. They were the first photos of Kim published since Aug. 14; in both sets of pictures he wears his trademark dark sunglasses and a khaki jumpsuit.

The 66-year-old communist leader disappeared from public view in mid-August and failed to make appearances on two national holidays – leading to speculation he was ill. American and South Korean officials said he suffered a stroke and had brain surgery; North Korea has denied he is ailing.