In a hospital, according to the Dong-A Ilbo, quoting the ubiquitous unnamed official (via AP):
South Korean intelligence indicates that ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong Il suffered a serious health setback and has been hospitalized, a newspaper reported Wednesday.
The report in the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper cited an unnamed government official in saying intelligence obtained Sunday suggested “a serious problem” with Kim’s health. The report did not elaborate.
Kim, 66, reportedly suffered a stroke and underwent brain surgery in August. North Korea, however, denies he is ill.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and its Unification Ministry said Wednesday they were aware of the Dong-a report but could not confirm it.
The Marmot’s Hole, meanwhile, is cannot confirm rumors that it was Kim, not New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre, who called former Detroit Lions president Matt Millen several weeks ago to give him and Lions coaches tips they could use in their Sept 14 game against the Green Bay Packers.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
South Korean intelligence is just arriving at that conclusion because Japanese media caught Kim Jong Nam shopping for a neurosurgeon in Paris. Last week they were telling us that he was still in control of everything. And now they can speak with apparent authority telling us that he suddenly has made a turn for the worse. Let me guess: brain surgery needed? Common, this isn’t brain surgery… or I guess I should say rocket science. (Memo to the NIS: try putting an agent inside Fiji TV).
#1,
South Korean intelligence was throwing us a red-herring, either to hide the identity of their sources in NK or minimize the impact that the real news would have on the South Korean economy and/or its relationship with the North.
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