North Korea's Kim Jong-Il Back In Control After Stroke, Brain Surgery

Seoul, South Korea (AHN) - South Korea's intelligence agency told lawmakers Wednesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is still running the government after suffering a stroke and undergoing brain surgery last month.

"[Kim] is partially paralyzed and feels discomfort with the left side of his body," an unnamed official of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a briefing at the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, according to Chosun Ilbo. But NIS officers said the 66-year-old Kim has no difficulty in speaking, a common side effect of a stroke.

Chinese and French doctors treated Kim when he suffered the stroke in the middle of August

Rumors about Kim's poor health and even death circulated after he failed to appear in a military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the communist country on Tuesday. Kim Yong-nam, the number two leader, denied the rumors.