Kim Jong-il photo used for South Korea target practise

Photos of Kim Jong-il have been used as target practise by South Korean soldiers.

As well as the North Korean leader, pictures of Jong-il's son and deceased father are also used in infantry training camps around South Korea, reports AFP.

The practise is said to be "boosting battle spirit" after an attack from North Korea killed four South Koreans, a military official told major South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.

The official said: "Some voice concern that the practice can provoke the North, but one should not forget the North staged two attacks that killed our civilians and soldiers."

A defence ministry spokesperson revealed that soldiers will be told to stop using photos of Kim Jong-il and his family. However, he added that it is up to each training centre to decide whether to follow the ministry's advice.

"Details of military practices are for each training centre to decide", stated the spokesperson.

It was recently reported that the video game Homefront had to be censored in Japan, removing all mentions of Kim Jong-il and North Korea. The game's story involves an alternate timeline which includes the death of the North Korean dictator.