Kim Jong Il Healthy, 'in Control': US Official

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 9, 2009 5:37 PM CDT
Kim Jong Il Healthy, 'in Control': US Official
Talks between Clinton and the North Koreans were "respectful and cordial in tone," National Security Advisor James L. Jones says.   (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service)

Kim Jong Il was healthy and "in full control of his government" when Bill Clinton met with the North Korean dictator last week, a White House official says. Kim “seemed in control of his faculties" and "sounded very reasoned" during the meeting, says National Security Advisor James L. Jones. Intelligence reports have indicated that Kim’s ill health set off a power struggle in North Korea, the Los Angeles Times reports. (More North Korea stories.)

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