- Oct 15, 2001
- 6,766
- 0
- 0
Taken from KBS website: http://www.kbs.co.kr
The rumor is widely circulating among Beijing diplomats that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's wife may have passed away. Our correspondent Kim Ki-choon has the details from Beijing.
Reporter:
North Korea observers in China said that Koh Young-hee, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's ailing wife reportedly received treatment overseas and returned but her condition deteriorated and she died.
The rumor of Koh's death is spreading widely among Beijing diplomats without any official acknowledgement, but North Korean officials purchased an expensive coffin from France and shipped it to Pyongyang, backing up the rumor.
North Korea experts also said that the recent brief interruption of the local telephone service in Pyongyang as well as the city tour for Chinese may be related to Koh's death.
Koh, 51 year old, is the second wife of Kim Jong-il after Song Hye-rim, and is believed to have two sons, 23-year-old Kim Jong-chul and Kim Jong-un.
It appears that Koh's death may have a substantial effect upon Kim Jong-il's surroundings as well as the North Korean leadership, as a series of movements have been observed in the North Korean army, namely publications glorifying Koh as a "dear respected mother," and Koh's portraits being put up.
Some impetuous experts even suggest that internal disputes between Kim Jong-chul, Koh's son, and Kim Jung-nam, his half-brother may gain speed over the inheritance of leadership.
Kim Ki-choon, KBS News from Beijing.