North Korea's Kim Jong-Il Is A No Show For An Important Funeral Raises Speculation On His Health

North Korea's Kim Jong-Il

North Korea's Kim Misses Major Event Again:
South Korea -- Yahoo News/Reuters

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-il failed to attend the funeral of one of the most senior members of the communist state, the South said on Friday, adding to speculation about the health of the reclusive leader.

Kim, 66, was thought to have suffered a stroke in August. He has attended funerals for lower ranking members of the communist state before and his absence from this week's funeral of an old-guard cadre who served with his father raises questions if he is fit enough to appear in public.

"Chairman Kim Jong-il is confirmed not to have attended the funeral," Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyeon said at a news conference.

A debilitated Kim, who was conspicuously absent from gala ceremonies in September to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his state's founding, raises questions about leadership in Asia's only communist dynasty and who was making decisions concerning its nuclear arsenal, analysts have said.

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My Comment: He is clearly not well.