SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is suffering from depression, according Ha Tae-keung, the head of Open Radio for North Korea.

"Kim gets angry and fretful so often that his aides don't dare to look him in the face when reporting to him," Ha claimed on Feb. 25. "He has also cut the number of on-the-spot guidance tours by less than half" so his third son and heir apparent Jong-un is undertaking them on his behalf.

Pavel Ovsyannikov, the principal conductor of the 21st Century Orchestra of Moscow, visited Pyongyang in September to give a performance and later told a Japanese newspaper Kim smoked Marlboro cigarettes and "had a strong grip" when he shook his hand.

He also said that Kim had a sharp memory and used both hands freely. This led to speculation that Kim has recovered his health.

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