Unnamed officials from the United States and have stated that the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il may have suffered a “serious” stroke. Officials state that the rumors of his illness began to spread Tuesday after he failed to make an appearance at the nation’s 60th anniversary lent credence, an annual military parade.
“There is reason to believe Kim Jong Il has suffered a serious health setback, possibly a stroke,” said an unnamed U.S. official who also added that he had the stroke about two weeks ago. The official also stated that his life was not in imminent danger.
Rumors of Kim’s health started to spread in August, but the official said that his failure to attend the parade is an idea of how bad his condition is. Chosun Ilbo, a newspaper in South Korea first reported in August that an unnamed diplomat in Beijing, China said Il had collapsed on August 22. According to the BBC, a South Korean official told the Yonhap News Agency that Kim “collapsed,” while a North Korean official is quoted as saying the reports are “rubbish.” There has been no official confirmation of those reports by either the South or North Korean governments.
Kim has attended the last 10 parades for the nation’s military or other military events.
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