North Korean leader
Chang Song-min, a former aide to late South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, alleged that Kim has become seriously ill amid speculation about his limited public appearances this year.
In April, rumors circulated that the Hermit Kingdom honcho was in a vegetative state after a botched heart operation.
The former aide now claims Kim fell into a coma months ago and that his subsequent appearances were recorded previously,
“I assess him to be in a coma, but his life has not ended,” he told South Korean media, adding that the leader’s younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, was poised to help lead the country.
“A complete succession structure has not been formed, so Kim Yo Jong is being brought to the fore as the vacuum cannot be maintained for a prolonged period,” he said.