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Speculation is swirling that North Korea's leader has suffered a stroke and is gravely ill after he failed to show up at a major national parade in Pyongyang on Tuesday.

There was no sign of Kim Jong-il, 66, at the parade marking the 60th anniversary of North Korea's founding and the country's state media was silent about his absence.

Footage on state television showed images of lower level officials on a viewing stand, watching an event that was less bombastic than in other key anniversary years. Marching militia members and a few military vehicles circulated by a large portrait of Kim, but there were no signs of the tanks and missiles usually put on parade.

"There is reason to believe Kim Jong-il has suffered a serious health setback, possibly a stroke," a Western intelligence official told the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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From the article:

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Toshimitsu Shigemura, a North Korea expert who teaches at Japan's Waseda University, has even speculated that Kim actually died five years ago and that North Korea has been using body doubles at public events ever since.

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Wow, that's creepy.

[ 09 September 2008: Message edited by: Doug ]

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Originally posted by Doug:
What happens to a personality cult without its personality?

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