A Japanese scholar and expert on North Korea, Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor at Tokyo's Waseda University, has claimed recently that Kim actually died in 2003 and that the North has been using body doubles of Kim for public events. Waseda University celebrated the 125th anniversary of its founding by Shigenobu Okuma who was a scholar and government leader. Waseda is one of Japan's top private, co-educational institutions of higher learning.
Here's another expert on North Korea - Dr. Robert Springs. His approach to engagement with the North is innovative and humane. http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2009/0406north_korea.shtml
I heard that Dr.Shigemura was one of the most famous specialists who study North Korea. However, I doubt whether this claim is correct or not because there is little evidence.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, is this photo the real thing?