23 Dec 2011

Account of Kim's death questioned

5:33 am on 23 December 2011

South Korean intelligence has questioned how North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died.

Citing US satellite photos, the National Intelligence Service says there was no sign that a special train, on which Mr Kim is reported to have been travelling when he died, had left Pyongyang.

State media announced on Sunday that Kim Jong-il, 69, died on Saturday of a heart attack.

NIS director Won Sei-Hoon said on Tuesday that the train was stationary at a Pyongyang station at the time of his death.

He said the train had not moved on Friday or Saturday.

According to media reports, legislators also asked about a rumour that Kim actually died at his residence on Friday night. Mr Won said he had heard the rumour but the NIS could not verify it.