Don Oberdorfer, a leading expert on North and South Korea in an interview with nytimes, says there are no clear signs that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is too ill to run the country.
“We would know if he were in such a state that he could not function and he couldn’t give any instructions,” Oberdorfer said. “Things like that trickle out of the North. That’s not been the case.” He said he believes the Obama administration will step up diplomacy on North Korea but doubts there will be major initiatives in the short term.
“The administration has got lots of things on its plate” and this “is not an issue where you can get any early returns. I remain skeptical it’s going to be a major item.”