Kim Jong Il, North Korea's leader, has life-threatening pancreatic cancer, a news report said yesterday, days after fresh images of him looking gaunt spurred speculation that his health was worsening following a reported stroke last year. Mr Kim, 67, was diagnosed at about the time he was felled by the stroke last summer, Seoul's YTN television reported, citing unidentified intelligence officials in South Korea and China who had said the disease was “threatening” Mr Kim's life.

Pancreatic cancer is usually discovered only in its final stage and, considering Mr Kim's age, he is expected to live no more than five years, the report said.

The American Cancer Society reports less optimistic data: it says about 20 per cent of people survive for at least a year after diagnosis but fewer than 5 per cent survive as long as five years.