Kim’s Reported Illness Raises Concerns on North Korean Nukes

Reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is suffering significant health problems have raised concerns about the future of diplomatic efforts to eliminate his nation’s nuclear arsenal, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Sept. 9).

Kim has not made any public appearances since last month and did not show up this week for the military parade marking his nation’s 60th anniversary.

“There is reason to believe Kim Jong Il has suffered a serious health setback, possibly a stroke,” according to one Western intelligence source (Hess/Lee, Associated Press I/Yahoo!News, Sept. 10).

South Korea’s intelligence service today said that Kim appeared to have recently undergone surgery for some sort of circulatory problem and was on the mend, AP reported. ....