North Korea has dismissed reports that its leader Kim Jong-il might be seriously ill following his failure to appear at an anniversary parade.
Speculation grew after the reclusive 66-year-old leader, widely believed to suffer from debilitating illnesses, failed to appear at a parade on Tuesday to mark the country's 60th anniversary since its founding.
A U.S. intelligence official said he might have suffered a stroke.
The latest health scare comes just as the impoverished communist state appears to be backing away from a deal with major powers to scrap its atomic programme in exchange for aid and an end to its international isolation.
Helen Long reports.
