N. Korea’s Kim Fails to Make Speech, Deepening Mystery

The mystery over Kim Jong Il’s hold on power deepened Sunday when he failed to make North Korea’s traditional New Year’s Day address to the Communist nation.

North Korea’s state radio issued a three-word statement--”Happy New Year”--attributed to the son and designated successor of longtime North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, who died July 8.

Kim, 52, later visited an army barracks, his first public appearance since October.

He has not officially taken control of the reclusive country. That and his infrequent public appearances have raised questions about his health and possible internal challenges by military hard-liners upset over a nuclear deal signed with the United States in October.

He was not involved, at least directly, in the negotiations to release Bobby Hall, the American pilot held for 13 days after his helicopter was shot down Dec. 17 over North Korea.

When Sens. Frank H. Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Paul Simon (D-Ill.) visited Pyongyang three weeks ago and sought a meeting with Kim, they were told he was still in mourning for his father. The official 100-day mourning period ended in October.

The last time Kim appeared in public, he had lost weight. South Korean media reported recently that he is believed to need a kidney transplant, but that the operation cannot be performed because of liver damage from his reported heavy drinking.

There also has been speculation that he suffers from other ailments.