A video produced by North Korea's state news agency KCNA, which cannot be independently verified, shows the disabled performing song and dance at the Indoor Stadium of Kim Chaek University of Technology in Pyongyang. The video also showed a meeting that introduced this year's results of policies aimed at improving welfare of disabled.

KCNA said foreigners working for international organisations including the European Union Programme Support and embassies in Pyongyang attended the event. "Under the care of dear leader, disabled children could perform like ordinary children. I'm full of gratitude to dear respected Marshal," said a North Korean mother of hearing-impaired child, Ri Kyong Hui.

Some North Korean defectors have testified that the reclusive country is not generous to disabled people. In 2006, a physician who defected from the North said the country has no disabled people because they are killed almost as soon as they are born. He said babies born with physical disabilities were killed in infancy in hospitals or in homes and were quickly buried.

Some anti-North Korea activists claim that the North's activities to promote disabled people's rights are seen as efforts to get more international aid.

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