NBC: U.S. calls Kim Jong Il’s health a ‘concern’

Source: MSNBC

South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials confirm that the two countries are taking seriously recent reports of a deterioration in the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

The interest, first reported in South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper and confirmed by NBC News, is based on Kim’s month-long disappearance from view as well as internal reports that the 66-year-old is suffering from advanced diabetes and heart disease as well as high blood pressure.

“The National Intelligence Service has obtained information that the reclusive leader Kim’s diabetes and heart disease have been worsening. This information is more reliable than former rumors,” Chosun Ilbo reported, quoting a South Korean official.

“It is a matter of interest and concern. I wouldn’t steer you away from that,” a senior U.S. intelligence official told NBC News. “People with diabetes don’t usually get better. They can control it better, but it doesn’t get better. Is it being looked at closely? Oh yeah. Is he on his death bed? No.”

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18923894/

hold undisputed the title of "Most Apeshit-Crazy Megalomaniac on Earth".

But that was pretty damn funny!

in a country full of poor, starving people. The irony of him dying from advanced diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure is amusing.

is who would replace him?

...in the article. The concern is that KJI's death will create a power-vacuum as he has, to my knowledge, not named a successor.

I thought all dictators thought that they'd live forever and always be running things.

....idiots

If you were born into this environment, you'd think you had it good too. The people of North Korea are not idiots. Ignorant perhaps, but that is because their government goes to every effort to keep them that way. Access to any non-government information in NK is strictly controlled and few have the ability, knowledge or equipment to bypass the government blackout.

I'm sure I heard that several times in the past.

My concern is that the younger ones in the Family are usually worse than their elders because of arrogance and inexperience.

son is really, really young. So it's tough to predict.

And in short order, an underground nuclear test was conducted?

sorry, gotta go,no time to google it but the rumors of his playboy son sneaking out of the country to have fun also were mentioned about that time

Castro, or Kim Jong-il?

...'cause, if "K to the J to the I-l" buys the farm, there will go one of the top routines from her "Stand Up News."

;-)

He's in great shape? Dammit, one of the most bugfuck crazy garrison-state rulers on Earth is doing fine and likely to remain so!

He's in poor shape? Dammit, one of the most bugfuck crazy garrison-state rulers on Earth is creating a power vacuum in his broken-assed regime!

Le sigh. The world needs Heisen-despots or something. Where's my Geiger counter...