Kim Jong-il’s Wife, Ko Young-hee, in Critical Condition

Sankei Newspaper of Japan reported by referring to informed news sources in Seoul on August 11 that the Korean Information Institute is in a hurry to confirm the rumor that Ko Young-hee (51), the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, is in critical condition.

According to the sources, after Ko Young-hee returned from Paris after getting medical treatment for breast cancer to North Korea, it was verified that North Korea purchased an expensive coffin in France and transported it to Pyongyang, and the rumor is that this is related to the condition of Ko Young-hee.

In some areas, the rumor that Ko Young-hee died in Paris and returned to North Korea as a corpse is circulating.

This newspaper reported that recently, A project respecting Ko Young-hee who gave birth to Jung-chul (23) and Jung-woon (18), the second and the third sons of Kim Jong-il, as North Korea’s “Dear respected mother,” is underway, and the observation has been suggested that this is related to succession planning.

Won-Jae Park parkwj@donga.com