North Korean leader may be ill

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has reportedly suffered a stroke or cerebral hemorrage but is still running the country according to South Korean intelligence sources.

Kim has not been seen in public recently and he apparently was set to appear at the Sept. 9 national anniversary but canceled probably due to inadequate recovery from surgery after the stroke. South Korean sources said that Chinese and French doctors have visited the country to treat Kim.

Pyongyang recently has started rebuilding its nuclear facilities after a deadlock in talks over verification procedures.

BBC News

NKorean leader suffered stroke: Seoul intelligence AFP - 1 hour ago SEOUL (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has suffered a stroke but is still able to run the country and will recover, South Korea's intelligence agency told parliament Wednesday. Video: N. Korea's Kim Jong Il May Be Sick AssociatedPress Kim Jong Il had stroke, Seoul officials say International Herald Tribune

Militants attack Pakistani PM

In another sign that Pakistan is becoming increasingly unstable after the resignation of former President Pervez Musharraf, militants struck the car of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with gunfire today.

No one was reported injured in the attacks and three arrests were made at the site of the incident.

In other news, the United States for the first time launched a unilateral ground assault in Pakistan drawing sharp protests from Islamabad.

ABC News

Pakistan Says Gilani Attack Aimed at Harming Country (Update1) Bloomberg - 2 hours ago By Paul Tighe and Khaleeq Ahmed Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) -- A gun attack on the motorcade of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was aimed at disrupting Pakistan and the government won't allow militants to challenge the state, Information Minister Sherry ... Video: Pakistan PM's Car Hit by Bullets AssociatedPress Shots fired at car of Pakistan premier Financial Times

Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda resigns

Unpopular Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda resigned today less than a year after replacing Shinzo Abe quit due to ill health.

Opinion polls gave Fukuda less than a 30 percent approval rating, and he was routinely blocked in the Diet, the Japanese legislature, by the upper house-controlling opposition party.

The surprise announcement brought calls for snap elections by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Fukuda's Liberal Democratic Party has ruled Japan for almost its entire history following World War II.

Voice of America

Fukuda gives up the unequal struggle
Financial Times, UK - 1 hour ago
Less than a year after Shinzo Abe, the aristocratic nationalist prime minister, quit on the grounds of ill health, Yasuo Fukuda has become the second ...
Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda resigns guardian.co.uk
Japanese Prime Minister Announces Resignation Voice of America
Japanese Prime Minister in shock resignation after less than a ... Daily Mail

Play Japanese PM resigns CNN via Yahoo! News - Sep 01 9:02 AM

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda leaves after a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo Monday, Sept. 1, 2008. Fukuda, 72, suddenly announced his resignation after less than a year in office Monday, throwing the world's second-largest economy into political confusion. Fukuda said he was stepping down to avoid a 'political vacuum' as the deeply troubled government heads into a special parliamentary session later in the month. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)