Report: Kim Jong-Il Has Pancreatic Cancer

Several news outlets are reporting this morning that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago, according to both South Korean and Chinese sources.

Kim's health is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the reclusive communist state. Kim, 67, was widely thought to have suffered a stroke last year, but there has never been official confirmation.

Kim looked gaunt during a public appearance last Wednesday at a memorial for his father and state founder Kim Il-Sung.

Kim's health raises questions about succession in Asia's only communist dynasty and who will control its nuclear weapons programs.

The question of course is after nearly a year, why is the report leaking now, weeks after a series of nuclear weapon and missile tests in June and early July?

This raises a lot of uncomfortable questions at this point, largest of which is who will be in charge after Kim passes. Pancreatic cancer is usually pretty fatal as it tends not to be detected and diagnosed until it gets bad enough to be fatal, and that was a year ago. The peaceful transfer of power is not something nuclear communist nations are known for.

We'll see.