Awwwww, you're no fun. Where's your sense of adventure? Your sense of conspiracy? Remember it took days for the world to learn of Stalin's death back in 1954. And how about the string of Chinese leaders who have died, starting with Mao? In an age of instant communications is took a while for their passings to become common knowledge.

So who's to say some Star Chamber in North Korea, reputedly the world's "most closed society," couldn't pull off such a ruse and keep that ball rolling for years?

And as for in-person negotiations, one pot-bellied, brush-cut, moon-faced, splay-footed dude with halitosis (OK, I'm just guessing, here) looks pretty much the same as another.

"Those North Korean dictators all look alike." --Rev Charles Dobson.


(not really)

The dictator used to "sneak" up to Japan to watch Princess Tenko perform magic.... Then he sort of disappeared, raising questions of his whereabouts.

Invitro-fertilization and a brother and a sister for parents and you can make a bunch of Kim Jong Ils. One nuclear test failure could accomplish the same thing. And 4 guys addicted to booze and porn? That is too common.

ahh.. interesting... reports of death for 5 years AND being ill for a month.. what I find fascinating, is.. IF his death in 2003 is true... what a charade.. gotta give the NKs props for being able to keep such a secret...