Seoul (AsiaNews/ Agencies) – Western observers affirm that leader Kim Jong-il could be gravely ill: yesterday he was not present at the parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the States foundation. The gathering, which saw over one million spectators, was a procession of armoured vehicles and marching soldiers who shout slogans for their “dear leader”, who was nowhere to be seen.
American secret services maintain that he suffered a heart attack some weeks ago.
Even South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, reports the comments of Seoul diplomats in Beijing according to whom Kim fell ill on August 22nd last.
The “dear leader” succeeded his father in ’94, is 66 years old and suffers from diabetes and heart problems.
According to Toshimitsu Shigemura, a Japanese academic from Waseda University Tokyo, Kim actually died in 2003 and since then, the army has used look-a-likes at official ceremonies.
The surprising absence of the North Korean leader has raised concerns over the future of the communist dynasty, given that Pyongyang has decided to once again abandon six party talks (USA, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea) to continue to pursue its nuclear program.
Kim Jong-il has still not indicated his successor.
Seoul analysts say it remains unclear whether Kim Jong-il’s eldest son Kim Jong-nam (37) will replace him after his death or whether it will be Kim Jong-chul (27). But the possibility of a collective military leadership is also emerging.
North Korean diplomats have told Kyodo News that these illusions to the health conditions of Kim Jong-il are part of a “western conspiracy”.
