Kim Jong Il suffering from kidney failure, partially paralysed

London, Mar 25 (ANI): North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Il is partially paralysed following a 2008 stroke and is also suffering from kidney failure, the head of a South Korean state research institute has said.

The paleness of Kim's fingernails indicates the 68-year-old leader has chronic kidney disease, said Nam Sung-Wook, the director of the Institute for National Security Strategy.

The institute has links to South Korea's National Intelligence Service and Nam's remarks, in a speech at a Seoul forum, were quoted by South Korea's Yonhap news agency and were confirmed by the organisers of the event.

"Chairman Kim Jong-Il is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure and we believe he is undergoing kidney dialysis every two weeks. (The pale colour of) his nails indicates he has chronic kidney failure," The Times quoted Nam, as saying.

Nam showed photographs of Kim to illustrate his point. The North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency frequently releases colour photos of the Supreme Leader.

Kim weighed 86kg (189 pounds) before his stroke in August 2008, according to Nam. In January last year he went on a three-month diet and slimmed down to 70-73kg (154-160lbs). (ANI)