The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Seoul

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has suffered a minor stroke but his life is not in danger, a South Korean government official said Wednesday.

Kim's failure to appear at a major parade Tuesday celebrating the hardline communist country's 60th anniversary triggered renewed speculation about the reclusive leader's state of health. A US intelligence official also said he may have suffered a stroke.

However in Pyongyang, the regime 's number two leader was quoted as denying the reports, which another official branded a "conspiracy" by Western media.

The unidentified Seoul government official told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that Kim, 66, had undergone surgery after suffering the stroke but his condition is not life-threatening.

"It seems that he had intended to attend the September 9 event in the afternoon but decided not to because of the aftermath of the surgery."

Yonhap quoted another official as saying that Kim Jong-Il seemed to have suffered a collapse at some time. Kim's apparent illness comes amid deadlock in a crucial six-nation nuclear disarmament deal and fears that the North-which carried out its first atom bomb test two years ago-intends to restart the programme. There was no official confirmation from Seoul that Kim is ill. He is known to suffer from diabetes and heart problems and there have been numerous unconfirmed reports in the past of him receiving treatment.