Thailand's king seen in rare TV appearance amid concerns about his ailing health

BANGKOK – Thailand's king has made a rare, brief appearance on television amid concerns about his ailing health.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who turned 88 earlier this month, was shown seated in a chair Monday presiding over the swearing in of a group of judges at a Bangkok hospital where he has spent most of the last six years.

His last appearance before the general public was on Sept. 1.

The deeply revered king is a constitutional monarch with no formal political role but has been regarded as a stabilizing figure for Thailand, which has experienced political turmoil in recent years.

His most recent ailment was a lung infection that required him to be fed intravenously and use a machine to aid his breathing.