KIM HAS SUFFERED STROKE, SAYS S KOREA

tauringhuang.

The South Korean presidential office announced yesterday that Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, is recovering from a stroke but is not in a serious condition, Kyodo News agency reported, despite earlier concerns to the contrary.

South Korea's state intelligence agency said in a parliamentary report yesterday that Kim is “in a recoverable and manageable state”.

Speculation that Mr Kim might be illwas fuelled by his absence from a military parade held on Tuesday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the world's oldest communist state.

US officials said the 66- year-old leader might have suffered a “health crisis”. But Kim Ha-joong, Seoul's minister for unification with the North, said the government was unable to confirm the state of the North Korean leader's health.

Yonhap, the South Korean news agency, cited a South Korean official saying Mr Kim had undergone surgery after a minor stroke but his life was not in danger.

North Korean officials strongly denied the reports.

South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak held an emergency meeting with security advisers to discuss the issue. “The government is still paying close attention to ongoing circumstances in North Korea to make thorough preparations for any emergency situation,” said the presidential spokesman.

The leader of North Korea, who is believed to suffer from heart problems and diabetes, has not appeared in public since last month.