By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il denied news reports that he suffers from heart disease or diabetes during a luncheon with President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday.
``There have been reports that I have diabetes or heart problems but they're not true at all,'' Kim, 65, told delegates at the summit farewell lunch.
Kim further said that North Korea's medical studies were not as well advanced in heart disease and so it invites people from overseas for education purposes.
``But my every movement (on the disease) is covered by a great spotlight,'' Kim said. ``I think they are not journalists but novelists.''
When a team of German doctors visited Pyongyang in May, many speculated that Kim might have had a heart operation.
Kim said that he was not that offended by such reports because they put emphasis on him.
The media have often reported that Kim is ill, and his appearance during the second inter-Korean summit reinforced the reports as he obviously looked old and sick compared with his appearance at the first inter-Korean summit in June 2000.
It was the second time that Kim refuted reports on his health. On Wednesday when Roh expressed his appreciation for Kim's personal greeting on his arrival in Pyongyang, Tuesday, Kim jokingly said he went out to greet Roh because he was not ``an ill man, so there was no need (for him) to be in bed at home.''