Kim Jong-il Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis now widely reported

[grantcart]

The diagnosis first reported by Rueters that President Kim Jong-il of North Korea has terminal pancreatic cancer is now being reported by a number of sources.

News sources are quoting both Chinese and South Korean intelligence sources.

His recent appearance showed that he has grown perceptively more frail




Here is NYT latest report:

North Korea leader Kim has pancreatic cancer: report

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/world/asia/13korea.html?_r=1

SEOUL, South Korea — The North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who suffered a stroke last August, was also found to have “life-threatening” pancreatic cancer at about the same time, a South Korean cable television network reported on Monday.

The network, YTN, a cable news channel, quoted unidentified Chinese and South Korean intelligence sources for the report, which was made by YTN’s Beijing-based correspondent.

YTN did not explain how the sources obtained such medical information about Mr. Kim from North Korea, an isolated nuclear-armed state that historically has kept details of Mr. Kim’s health a closely guarded secret.

But if the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is true, he may not have much longer to live. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to detect early, it spreads rapidly and the fatality rate is high. The World Health Organization says fewer than 5 percent of patients with pancreatic cancer live longer than five years.

Although Mr. Kim began making occasional public appearances a few months after he mysteriously disappeared last August, photographs of him and television images recently carried by the North Korean media showed him limping and frail.

. . .

edited to fix subject line

[SeattleGirl]

1. Well that explains it then: he wants to take the rest of us with him.

Crazy bastard.

[grantcart]

2. no they want to create a crises atmosphere so that the world embraces the

successor with relief that NK is now in stable hands.


Its "we are batshit crazy, now we have a new leader, now we are just normal crazy, leave us alone'

[SeattleGirl]

3. Well, that makes a lot of sense too.

Though I still think he's batshit crazy.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. I was thinking the same thing. n/t

[scheming daemons]

4. The only bright side is that whoever replaces him can't POSSIBLY be more batshit crazy.... right?

RIGHT?

[izquierdista]

8. What harm can Bush do?

I mean, he'll be like his dad and only serve one term, right?

[Soylent Brice]

16. that sent chills up my spine.

[vaberella]

11. Well he put his teen age sons in charge of a few things...so meh. n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. oh no...another generation of crazies

[Jennicut]

17. His son is just is bad as he is, sorry.

[Cant trust em]

5. My political side wants to be happy, but my humanity thinks this is sad.

I'm feeling pretty conflicted right now.

[lindisfarne]

12. Just think of the tens of 1000s who have died in labor camps for expressing even slightly different

opinions. Might help.

[geek tragedy]

6. Good riddance. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

7. He could be dead already

Even intelligence sources have a hard time following what happens in NK. And when they do find out, it's often months old.

If they're only finding out now that he has pancreatic cancer, he could be dead now. Or close to it.

[grantcart]

9. Seeing the picture it reminded me of "Weekend at Bernie's"

[davidpdx]

14. I'm optomistic he'll be gone in the next two years

if he's really as sick as the reports say he is. Hopefully once he is, some reforms will begin to happen.

[grantcart]

15. I would be surprised if he lasts till Christmas

Given how much makeup and drug assistance he is getting for a photo op he looks very sick.


It also explains the significant uptick in bizzare behavior by the North.

[davidpdx]

18. I wouldn't bet on him to croak that quickly

He'll make it until next year. His younger son is western educated, which is possibly the only bright spot. One can only hope he'll shoot Kim Jong Ill's brother-in-law and his older brother as his first act when he takes over.