[Chooriwrocafn]

They were just feeling unloved.

[QwOpHGyZ]

No, no. I know i gonna get in trouble for this, but actually reliable sources exclusively told me, that the important news will be about the Madonna/Ritchie divorce... North Koreans are all into Madonna, you know, and esp. the diplomats...

[OccabsLam]

God, is this going to be like Clay Aiken coming out of the closet?

Clay Aiken: "I'm gay!"
The World: "No sh*t."

[Ivanaishere]

A list of possible successors...

(Reuters) - Japanese news media said North Korea could issue an important announcement soon that might concern the health of leader Kim Jong-il.

Diplomats say they believe Kim, 66, recently suffered a stroke but latest news report suggest he maintains his grip on power in Asia's only communist dynasty.

Following are profiles of some possible successors to the reclusive leader, who intelligence sources have said suffers from diabetes and heart problems.

THE THREE SONS

Jong-chol, the second oldest of Kim's three known sons, is believed to be 27. Educated in Switzerland, he is thought to suffer from a hormonal disorder but is considered the favorite to succeed his father. Despite Jong-chol's lack of any formal grooming for the top job, one North Korea expert said he had been accompanying his father on official trips around the country.

Jong-nam, 37, is the oldest son but many believe he fell from grace after trying to enter Japan with a forged passport.

The youngest son, Jong-un, born in 1983, is often cited as the most promising but is seen as unlikely to be picked in a society where the tradition of seniority is so strong.

BROTHER-IN-LAW

Jang Song-taek, 62, is married to Kim's sister and a ruling Workers' Party official who appeared to lose favor some years ago in a power struggle with reformers. More recently, though, he returned to the inner leadership circle and is often seen as the second most powerful man after Kim in the ruling party structure, though he officially holds only a relatively low rank.

HEAD OF STATE

Kim Yong-nam, 80, is head of the North Korean parliament's leadership council and the country's nominal head of state. While a long-time loyal party member and a former foreign minister, he is not thought to have the legitimacy rooted in the North's revolutionary history, seen as necessary to become leader. If he did succeed Kim, it would likely be as a figurehead.

THE GENERALS

Jo Myong-rok is head of the powerful Political Department of the North's army and Kim's number two in the National Defense Commission. But he, too, is believed to be in poor health.

A 2006 report by the South's intelligence agency named another general, O Kuk-ryol, as a younger and more likely successor to Kim's military post. The report said he appeared to be a reliable figure who is familiar with South Korea.

General Hyon Chol-hae, 74, deputy director of the political division of the Korean People's Army, is frequently at Kim's side when he visits military units for his field guidance tours, leading analysts to believe he is a trusted aide.

(Reporting by Jack Kim, editing by Roger Crabb)

[Markdogas]

Originally posted by Winston
They're probably going to endorse Barack Obama.

[RaicickKida]

...well? It's been five days. What's this all about then?

[imnaone]

Well, it's clear the NKoreans are running on ethnic time; i.e., "immediately" means "sometime soon", and "5.00pm" means "before 6.00pm".

[Roorseprate]

Dear Leader doesn't like futbol players with long hair. Negotiations have become strained until Kimmel can tell which are guys and which are gals.

[CealialactBek]

Further speculation on KimJongIzzly's health:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7694630.stm

North Korean leader 'in hospital'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is probably still in hospital, but capable of making decisions, according to Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.

Mr Aso said intelligence reports showed Mr Kim's condition was not good and he was being treated by a French surgeon.

Mr Kim's health has been the subject of intense speculation since he failed to appear at a key parade in September.

US and South Korean officials say he may have suffered a stroke, but the North says this is a lie.

European surgeon?

Mr Aso did not reveal where the intelligence reports came from, saying: "In this era, we get information from many sectors."

But he told the foreign policy committee that Japan had "information that Mr Kim is probably in hospital".

"His condition isn't good. But we don't think that he's in a state where he's incapable of making any decisions at all," Mr Aso said.

The Japanese leader also appeared to confirm Japanese television reports that Mr Kim was receiving treatment from a French brain surgeon.

Earlier this week, Fuji TV broadcast footage of what it claimed was Mr Kim's eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, entering a Paris clinic for a discussion about his father's health.

South Korean intelligence officials have also said they believe Kim Jong-nam recently travelled to France.

Rumours about Kim Jong-il's state of health began when he missed several important anniversary celebrations.

North Korean officials have consistently denied that their leader is ill, and earlier this month official media released pictures of Mr Kim inspecting a military unit.

But several experts say the pictures may have been shot months earlier, fuelling yet more speculation.

The rumours come amid ongoing international efforts to end North Korea's nuclear programme.

Progress had stalled because Pyongyang was angry that the US had not taken it off a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

But the US has now removed it from the list, so North Korea has restarted work to dismantle its nuclear facilities.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ic/7694630.stm

Published: 2008/10/28 09:49:29 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

[BrainTop]

The question is, would KJI's decisions be better or worse if he had a stroke that affected his mental facilities?

[EarnestKS]

Looks like he had another stroke.

[Munccoughe]

I thought it was only his second in a year or so.