Kim Jong-il misses anniversary celebrations

WASHINGTON - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may have
had a stroke within the past couple of weeks, a U.S.
intelligence official said on Tuesday.


"It does appear that Kim Jong-il has suffered a health
setback, potentially a stroke," the official said, speaking on
condition of anonymity.


She said there have been no signs of a change in governing
power and that assessing whether Kim was still capable of
governing would "call for a lot of speculation."


Kim failed to appear at a triumphal military parade on Tuesday
celebrating North Korea's 60th birthday.


South Korea's largest daily, the Chosun Ilbo, said Kim, 66 and
suspected of suffering from chronic illness, collapsed last month,
citing a South Korean diplomatic source in Beijing.


Kim, as leader, attended the parades for the 50th and 55th
anniversary of the state founded by his father Kim Il-sung.


White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, asked about the possible
stroke, "We do not have any information on that report."