North Korean sources say that Kim Jong Il has been using the help of a motorized wheelchair since his stroke in 2008. In particular, while Kim has been working to show off his health by increasing the frequency of his onsite guidance visits, it is said that he completes many of these with the support of his aides and/or the use of the motorized wheelchair.
According to a number of sources, Kim Jong Il’s health has picked up markedly since 2008, but he still requires the use of the electric wheelchair during external activities, including trips to China and Russia earlier in 2011.
One expert source in Seoul explained the situation, saying, “Kim Jong Il has been employing the electric wheelchair ever since he collapsed in 2008.” This, he added, is not due to his health having declined, but in order to “avoid overexertion as much as possible.”
“During his trip to Russia in August, apart from those times which were made public, there was basically no time spent walking,” the source added.
Kim’s use of the wheelchair was confirmed by another source, who added that, “he has been conducting a lot of onsite guidance recently, but he only gets up or for photos or walks a short distance, and the rest of the time he spends moving around in the wheelchair.”
He went on, “There was a photo published recently of him riding on a golf cart around a factory inspection, and this was also because of his walking difficulties. Additionally, from what I understand his trip to Russia only included three hours of walking time in total.”
Photos were also made public of Kim riding a similar contraption during onsite guidance visits to a synthetic leather factory and Central Tree Nursery in Pyongsung during October.
“It is hard to accurately forecast what Kim Jong Il’s health will be like going forward, but given that recuperative treatment has allowed him to walk and that he is receiving treatment at the best facilities from the best medical teams, it looks like he will maintain his current level of health rather than see a decline.”
“Of course it will be hard for him to rediscover a level of health that would allow him to conduct external activities like he used to,” the source continued, but stressed, ”it is still possible for him to rule the country as leader for a long time and decide policies, even if his mobility is restricted.”
