Kim Jong Il Sick? Stroke Rumors Circulate

North Korean Leader Absent From Nation's 60th Anniversary Celebration

(CBS/ AP)  There was no sign of Kim Jong Il at a closely watched parade Tuesday marking the 60th anniversary of North Korea's founding, and Western officials said the dictator - who has not appeared publicly for a month - may be gravely ill.

North Korea's state media was silent about his absence from the parade, a relatively low-key ceremony that unexpectedly lacked North Korea's trademark military display.

In a broadcast monitored in Seoul, Korean Central Television showed North Korea's No. 2 leader and other officials atop a viewing stand. Kim Jong Il was not shown.

In Washington, a Western intelligence official said there is reason to believe the 66-year-old, known to his people as the "Dear Leader," was gravely ill after he failed to show up at the celebration.

"There is reason to believe Kim Jong Il has suffered a serious health setback, possibly a stroke," the official said.

Another official said rumors and reports of a possible illness were based in part on intelligence gathered by other nations.

At her White House briefing, press secretary Dana Perino initially said she had no information on Kim's health. "I have nothing to give you today," she told journalists, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reported.

A senior U.S. official said rumors had been circulating for weeks about Kim's health and his control over North Korea's highly centralized government. That official said the United States has no independent confirmation that Kim is ill.

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that Kim did not attend and North Korea's state news agency has made no mention of Kim appearing in public Tuesday.

Kim's last appearance reported by North Korean media came on Aug. 14. South Korean media have reported in recent days that he may be ill and receiving medical treatment, citing government officials.

The South Korean government says it has been unable to confirm them.

Kim's health has been a focus of intense interest because his fate is believed to be closely tied to that of the secretive totalitarian state that he inherited in 1994 from his father in communism's first hereditary transfer of power.

Kim Jong Il took over the communist country after Kim Il Sung died of heart failure - a death that was not announced for 34 hours. He has three sons with two different mothers but has not anointed any of them as his successor.

A spokesman for South Korea's main spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said it could not immediately confirm Kim's absence. The rally involved about 1 million people, the spokesman said, on condition of anonymity, citing office policy.

The centerpiece of the celebration had been expected to be a massive military parade through Pyongyang's central Kim Il Sung Square - named after the communist country's founding figure - as normally happens in key anniversary years.

The footage broadcast on North Korean television showed what it described as civilian militia goose-stepping through the square.

Kim Jong Il attended the parade on the 50th and 55th anniversaries.

South Korean media have speculated that the 66-year-old Kim's health has worsened. South Korea's intelligence service has previously said Kim has chronic heart disease and diabetes - denied by Kim himself.

South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported Tuesday that Kim collapsed on Aug. 22, citing an unnamed South Korean diplomat in Beijing. The diplomat got the information from a Chinese source, the paper said.

A Japanese scholar and expert on North Korea, Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor at Tokyo's Waseda University, has even claimed recently that Kim actually died in 2003 and that the North has been using body doubles of Kim for public events.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news briefing Tuesday that she had no information about Kim's health and had not heard that he was ill. She did not answer a question asking when the last time was that Chinese officials spoke directly with Kim.

The North's 60th anniversary comes amid international doubts over its commitment to denuclearization, speculation about the health of its leader and a worsening food crisis.

North Korea's state news agency had made no mention of the parade late Tuesday, though it carried an exhortation from the main Rodong Sinmun newspaper calling on the population to remain united around Kim.

It also called for a stronger military, describing the armed forces as "the foundation of a strong nation."

South Korea said last week the North has begun restoring its atomic facilities in apparent anger over not being removed from a U.S. list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

North Korea - which conducted an underground nuclear test blast in October 2006 - began disabling its main nuclear facilities late last year in exchange for international energy aid and other benefits.

[mawskrat]

good that little short sh#t needs to be dead.

[questionnews]

Gee, I hope the stroke doesn''t effect his Golf game. He claims to be the best golfer in the world. It would be sad to never see him & Tiger Woods go at it.

[summarex]

For years Comrad Jong Ill took care of them.
Now they have taken care of him.

[amerifemale]

Hopefully he doesn''''t have Sarah Palin in the line of succession.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by realpatriot1 at 10:40 AM : Sep 09, 2008


What an IDIOT you are!!!!!

I guess you prefer the "OTHER" party instaed of her.
She is more about chnage and is ACTUALLY QUALIFED for JOB----better than the "OTHER"

There is actually NO basis for your COMPARSION of these two totally different people

You are such an IDIOT!!!!!!

[oldsoftee]

You just have to ask Gov. Palin about Kim. After all she''s in Alaska, right up there close to North Korea.

[docpeter-2009]

Gee, I hope the stroke doesn''''t effect his Golf game. He claims to be the best golfer in the world. It would be sad to never see him & Tiger Woods go at it.

Posted by Questionnews at 10:46 AM : Sep 09, 2008
____________________

Don''t know about Kim Il''s golf game, but the South Koreans have some really good players on the LPGA.

[questionnews]

Whatever realidiot. You should work for your delusional candidate''''s campaign office. Obviously, you have grasp of the reality that Palin is going to be YOUR next V. P. and , eventually President of these United States.

Posted by listenupfool at 11:27 AM : Sep 09, 2008

And that has what to do with this story.
The psychotically obsessed crowd will drag thier fear & loathing into any subject regardless of how unrelated the story.

[martin9p2]

If he''s still under the weather tomorrow, the headline will be "Kim Jong Ill Still Ill". When you inform your friend William of the sad fact, you''ll say Kim Jong Ill Still Ill, Bill.
Have a nice day everybody.

[oldsoftee]

martin9p2 - ...When you inform your friend William of the sad fact, you''''ll say Kim Jong Ill Still Ill, Bill.
Have a nice day everybody.
----------------------------------------------------
...but experimental pill may kill.

[questionnews]

Gee, I hope the stroke doesn''''''''t effect his Golf game. He claims to be the best golfer in the world. It would be sad to never see him & Tiger Woods go at it.

Posted by Questionnews at 10:46 AM : Sep 09, 2008
____________________

Don''''t know about Kim Il''''s golf game, but the South Koreans have some really good players on the LPGA.

Posted by docpeter at 11:36 AM : Sep 09, 2008

Here is a sample from www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2004/ea_nkorea_06_16.html

Pyongyang media say North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il enjoys golf, having shot multiple holes-in-one during his first try at the game. He reportedly aced five holes and finished 38 under par on the golf course. The "Great Leader" routinely shoots three or four holes-in-one per round, the government-controlled media reported.

[phydeux2]

Hey oldsoftee, you really need to work on your geography.

North Korea is at 40000''N latitude.
Alaska spans 51020''N to 71050''N.

Even your TomTom would tell you that since you obviously can''t read a map without one.

[oldsoftee]

Hey phydeux2, I guess you''re not TOO UP on your McCain campaign foregin affairs expertise criteria, are you?

[brianp55]

Couldn''t happen to a nicer guy. However, I suspect that this affliction may very well be an assassination attempt. Sixty years with this family would be enough for anybody.

[martin9p2]

If Dear Leader is still sick tomorrow, and the doctor prescribes a pickle-flavored medication and says to take as many as possible, you would say "Kim Jong Ill Still Ill, Will take Dill Pill ''til gills fill."

[phydeux2]

I''m not that concerned about the "foreign policy experience" of a potential president, or veep for that matter. The job of the State Department is to be the experts on foreign policy, keep the president advised, and let him/her make the EXECUTIVE decisions regarding such policies. Anyone qualified to be a politician can LEARN foreign policy from such advisors.

[walt1944-2009]

Rumors are circulating that Kim Jung II of North Korea may be very ill.

As to why, rumors out of Washington are that Kim Jung II has suffered a stroke or heart attack. The reasons for this belief were not readily known but it is suspeted that he may have suffered a heart attack watching a "pirated" DVD of a Hannah Montana concert.

It is also suspected that Jung may have been inadvertantly poisoned by an mysterious donor who sent the dictator a package labeled "Moose Burgers from Alaska" sent by a "secret admirer".

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!!
sig heil, IS RUSSIA REALLY NEXT TO ALASKA?, McCain!!!
sig heil, MOOSE HUNTER MAMA, Palin!!!!

[presjfk]

Kim Jong Il, the great leader or is it dear leader? Well his dead dad has one of those titles and he has the other. Anyway, I hope that he is soon the next dead leader. What a great gift to his country when he drops dead. Sooner is better than later. Hellspeed to you Kim Jong IL.

[oldsoftee]

Dear phydeux2 - "Anyone qualified to be a politician..."? Like, say, George W. Bush. Now HE ''s done well these last 8 years, hasn''t he. I believe it would be best to choose a team with demonstrated intellect AND experience. Somehow, a "hockey mom with lipstick" just a heartbeat from the Presidency just makes me a tad squeamish.

[presjfk]

I wonder if he fell victim to the secret surge weapon disclosed by Woodward yesterday?

[presjfk]

Dear phydeux2 - "Anyone qualified to be a politician..."? Like, say, George W. Bush. Now HE ''''s done well these last 8 years, hasn''''t he. I believe it would be best to choose a team with demonstrated intellect AND experience. Somehow, a "hockey mom with lipstick" just a heartbeat from the Presidency just makes me a tad squeamish. Posted by oldsoftee"

We finally found a worse leader than George Bush, Kim Jong Il. It was a tough race but Bush won. Congrats!

[presjfk]

When he dies there will be an outpouring of grief to the point of ridiculousness. Be sure to watch this on tv. It will be hilarious.

[tpraskac]

Good. Was a thorn anyhow

[edward1975-2009]

A nicer thing couldn''t happen to a nicer guy. Here''s looking at you.

[oldsoftee]

His title is actually "Deer Leader". Kinda like Pyongyang''s version of "Horse Whisperer" or "Caribou Caller"...

[rational_1]

Uh oh, he''s in a country with government-run health care. He''ll probably have to wait a few months for treatment. LOL Nice knowing you dear leader. Say hi to Stalin and Hitler when you join up with them.

[eggy1620]

His golf skills were exhibited on a mini golf course with a ridiculously high par rating. That, and he is the only one in the nation ever to play on it, lest someone else sentence themselves and their family to a horrible demise by doing better. Reminds me of that Twilight Zone episode about the kid with telekinesis , whom no one would dare disturb.

[avigil2]

vechiblesss are you on crack this morning?

[beehive21-2009]

The Marching Girls ,look good,we could use them.Some people on here ,display too much time on there hands,volunteer, for the Red Cross,be useful.

Only the good die young, Kim must be the rare exception for the bad.

[gmond]

Kim Jong ill?

[airboatboy]

That guy was crazy lookin'' anyway! I wanna see what he looks like gimpin'' around after a stroke!

[downsteamjim]

Mayabe he went back to being a community organizer.

[neonink]

I''m sorry to hear this. Can I send a bucket of KFC and pack of Marlboro''s while he gets better?

[marshall_nee]

Perhaps he had been informed prior that his next job was to lead the USSA.