Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NAVFC]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,419263,00.html


Looks like his reign might be over.

[Milwaukiedave]

It sounds pretty serious. My guess is he won't make it until the end of the year. The question then would be, who takes over. Rumor has it that it would be one of his sons.

[khyber]

[Jandar]

Kim Jong-il No-Show Fuels Rumors of Ill Health

Chosun Ilbo 10SEP2008

Speculation about the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il intensified Tuesday after Kim failed to appear at celebrations for the Stalinist country�s 60th anniversary. AP wrote there was �reason to believe Kim Jong-il has suffered a serious health setback, possibly a stroke,� probably within the last two weeks.

North Korea has celebrated its anniversary on a large scale every five years, and Kim had never missed one yet.

A diplomatic source said, �Information from various channels says North Korea did not hold the military parade for the 60th anniversary ceremony this year.� But whether it is due to ailing health that Kim did not make a public appearance or because of the cancelled military parade is not known, the source added. Instead, there was a parade of reserve forces like Worker and Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200809/200809100013.html

[Jandar]

Kim Jong-il has health problems: report

Korean Herald 10SEP2008

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il "almost certainly" has health problems, a senior South Korean official was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.

Kim, 66, failed to appear Tuesday at a major parade marking the country's 60th anniversary and a U.S. intelligence official said he may have suffered a stroke.

South Korean officials were taking seriously on Wednesday the latest reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is gravely ill.

Media speculation of the 66-year-old leader's health is not new, but officials say that current intelligence is more reliable than previous rumors.

"Given the analysis of the situation, he appears to have collapsed," a senior South Korean government official told Yonhap

North Korea experts here were cautious.

"Kim's absence was quite unusual," Kim Geun-sik, a liberal North Korea expert at Seoul's Kyungnam University, said. "You can link it to rumors of Kim's health and the possibility of a sensitive change in North Korean society, but you should not rush to a conclusion as information on the North is limited."

U.S. intelligence officials were quick to comment to the press that Kim's no-show might be attributable to health problems. North Korea's official media, virtually the only source of information on Kim's activities, have remained silent on the issue.


http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

[Ya-ta Boy]

What happened to the thread about imposters covering for him since his death 5 years ago? I thought that theory had possibilities.

Last week there were reports that the Norks were doing something at their nuke plant. If this report is true, I wonder what will happen to that story. Probably hold off on another confrontation till Kim recovers or dies and the succession is figured out. Bush may have just dodged another crisis here.

[Milwaukiedave]

Maybe they'll dip him in ratioactive material to preserve him. There is a new theory.

[Jandar]

[Milwaukiedave]

From the story in the Korea Times this morning, you would think that maybe it isn't as serious as it was made out to be. However, given that Lee has called an emergency meeting of his ministers, there must be some proof that it was pretty serious.

They were talking about it on CNN this morning and the rumor is either his 27 year old son or his brother in law would take over. Given the choice between the son and the brother in law, I think the son would be a bit better as he has some western education.

[chris_J2]

Kim Jong Ill or Kim Jong Well?

I liked the above caption from the Economist.

[mises]

The South Koreans are saying he had a stroke but is ok.

[Ya-ta Boy]

The article I read said 'partial paralysis' but gave no other details.