(CNN) -- A report in South Korean media is fueling the ongoing speculation about the deteriorating health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Kim Jong Il, seen in an undated state-issued photo, has made only two public appearances since August. Kim Jong Il, seen in an undated state-issued photo, has made only two public appearances since August. YTN News, citing unidentified intelligence sources in South Korea and China, reported Monday that the 67-year-old leader has pancreatic cancer. South Korea's Unification Ministry flatly denied the report, which comes a week after a frail-looking Kim appeared in public for the first time in months. Doctors told South Korea's state-run Yonhap News Agency that it is impossible to tell the status of Kim's health from the recent video of the reclusive leader. Kim appeared at a July 8 ceremony to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his father's death. He seemed frail and gaunt as he walked into the service flanked by senior party and military officials. North Korea's official KCNA news agency has routinely criticized the Western media for erroneously exaggerating the status of Kim's health. Last week's appearance was his second since he was widely reported to have suffered a stroke in August. Kim was seen in April when he was reappointed as chairman of North Korea's military board. His recent health problems and long absence from public functions have prompted speculation on whether he was ready to groom an heir. Don't Miss * Seoul: North Korea test fires more missiles * Kim Jong Il appears frail * North Korea unwilling to talk, envoy says The rules governing transfer of power in the secretive communist nation are unclear, but it is widely believed that Kim's youngest son, Kim Jong Un, will succeed him. Facts about North Korea ยป advertisement In April, the North Korean leader named Kim Jong Un and brother-in-law Chang Sung Taek to the country's powerful National Defense Commission. Chang, who is married to Kim Jong Il's sister, has effectively run the country in the wake of the leader's health problems, according to TIME Magazine. Chang is "the bridge from Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un," according to Baek Seung Joo, who watches North Korea at the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, who spoke to TIME Magazine last month. i hope he dies a slow painful death.
I understand the sentiment, but people would probably be better served with a quick, unexpected death that might throw succession into disarray.
If NK was advanced at all they would have done some motion capture while he was still spry and then they could just do a little computer generated Kim Jong Il and kept oppressing people for years.
Pancreatic Cancer is said to be the most painful form of cancer but there isn't enough suffering that he could endure to make up for the things he has done to the North Koreans.
From what I have read, he has lined up one of his sons as his successor. Any chance his son is more sane than him?
Question: Why is it called the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" when it's not democratic at all?
He picked his youngest son to be his successor, supposedly because the youngest was the most similar to the father. So probably not, but the youngest is suppose to be western educated.
But that really is true, we are the " United Provinces of Non-British North America". What about North Korea is democratic?
They have a system where people really do vote. It's just that there is only one name on the ballot. So they consider themselves democratic, even if it is a sham. (Note that they are the ones that named themselves.)
Indeed... Interesting news. I thought about the slow, painful death thing until someone made a logical post above about Kim going quickly to throw the succession process into disarray. Darn you, you thinking posters.
This is pure speculation on my part, but I'm worried. The military receives almost all the spending under him. Nobody knows how war crazy they are, and what they would do if he died. There may be some kind of military take over, and that is a scary thought. Of course Kim Jong Il is scary and probably in charge of the most repressive govt. out there, so it would be hard to get worse.
Since their in-place method of operation is a military-first approach, his son's figures to still be a pain in the ass. Possibly but hopefully not following crazy pursuits as a "gift to dad" kinda thing. Unless he gets complacement in the celebrity of his new gig as the country cult figure. But hunger is big motivator
