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North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il is so sick that he can't walk 30 yards without a rest, according to a report on Sunday by U.K. daily the Telegraph. The report cited Western government sources and was datelined Beijing.
"Diplomats in Pyongyang are increasingly convinced that the dictator needs heart surgery to restore his apparently flagging health," the Telegraph said. Kim must be accompanied by an assistant with a chair so that he can sit and catch his breath when he goes out, the paper said.
Rumors that Kim's health is seriously deteriorating began to spread when six doctors from the German Heart Institute in Berlin visited Pyongyang for eight days last month. Western diplomats believe the combined medical and surgery team treated the North Korean leader, but a spokesman for the German team denied the speculation.
The newspaper wrote that Kim's illness may explain why he has appeared keen to choose his successor. He has apparently put two of sons, Jong Chul, 26, and Jong Woon, 23, through a series of military inspections to ascertain who performed best.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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