While speculation has run rampant of late that Kim Jong Il has been dead since 2003, with an "imposter" masquerading as him since then, it was reported on Tuesday by a U.S. intelligence official that the North Korean leader may have suffered a stroke.
While Professor Toshimitsu Shigemura’s bestselling book, The True Character of Kim Jong-Il, reportedly cites sources from North Korea as well as the intelligence services of Japan and South Korea.
Fueling more speculation: North Korea had planned a massive military parade for its 60th anniversary on Tuesday. Instead, it scaled down the ceremony, and Kim did not attend the scaled-down celebration held instead. Rather, the #2 leader, Kim Yong Nam attended the ceremonies.
AP stated that a U.S. intelligence source had told them the following:
"There is reason to believe Kim Jong Il has suffered a serious health set back, possibly a stroke."
Kim's last reported public appearance was August 12.
It seems obvious that the "imposter" rumors seem like the work of fiction, such as movies like Dave, particularly since if such an imposter were to exist, wouldn't he have shown up at Tuesday's ceremony?
It makes for a great book, however (ahem).
No, it's more likely that indeed another dictator is facing illness, similar to Castro's illness last year. The question is: in the event of his death, who would be Kim's successor? The #2, Kim Yong Nam, or someone else?
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