North Korean Leader Had Another Stroke
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il suffered another stroke and a seizure last month, and his condition got bad enough to consider emergency surgery, a report said Wednesday.
Japan's Mainichi newspaper said that Kim suffered the recurrence of a brain hemorrhage, which was followed by a seizure, in late October. The situation was serious enough that Kim's attending physicians had to consider surgery, the report said, citing an unnamed Chinese official familiar with Kim's health status. The newspaper said it could not confirm whether Kim had more surgery but added his condition now appears to have stabilized for the time being.
The report said Kim's chronic heart problems began to get worse in August. Following extensive medical tests, doctors diagnosed an embolism and a blocked blood vessel in his brain, it said. After the diagnosis, French and Chinese neurosurgeons were flown into Pyongyang, and a team of French doctors then performed an operation, the report said.
The report citing the Chinese official also said Kim suffered some paralysis and slurring in his speech. It said Kim had been making a good recovery for the two-month period following initial surgery until the relapse late last month.
Meanwhile, North Korean officials continue to publish reports and photos of Kim, in a possible effort to sooth concerns about his health. Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Tuesday that he visited machinery and soap-making factories.
KCNA didn't say when exactly Kim visited these factories but said he praised staff at the machinery factory for fulfilling assignments for this year as of the end of October. It also released two photos, showing him during his visit to the factories.
A number of reports have said Kim suffered a stroke in August and that he underwent brain surgery. But North Korea denies he is suffering from any serious heath problems.