The US-based Voice Of the Martyrs (VOM) group, which is supporting Christians in North Korea, said its contacts report that sometime in late August, Kim Jong Il "suffered some kind of acute illness, quite possibly a stroke, that incapacitated him to some level."
However VOM said the illness was "neither fatal nor debilitating enough to prevent him from continuing to be aware and interactive with those around him."
Five Chinese physicians are reportedly in North Korea to care for him. "It is also reasonably certain that no change in the North Korean power structure has occurred, and there are no signs that such a change is imminent," said a VOM staff member who oversees VOM’s work in North Korea, speaking on condition of anonymity, apparently because of security concerns.
CHAOTIC POWER
In recent days, media have suggested that Kim Jong Il’s stroke has created a chaotic power struggle for control of North Korea, also called the "Hermit Kingdom."
"Kim Jong IL’s rise to power during the reign of [his father] Kim Il Sung occurred through the military, and his power continues to be exercised in this way. No line of succession has been publicly noted, though it is well established that the Chinese prefer Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong Il’s eldest son, while the North Korean military prefers Kim Jong Chul, Kim’s second son," a VOM North Korea insider said.
VOM said it has been working with "persecuted believers in North Korea for decades," including launching thousands of scripture balloons across into the notoriously closed country.
The group said it has encouraged all believers "to pray for the situation in North Korea" and for "the protection of believers living under harsh conditions and those who have defected to China." Thousands of Christians are reportedly held in prison camps across the country, and many of them face torture, human rights groups have said.
