By 29 October 2008, reports stated Kim suffered a serious setback and had been taken back to the hospital. The New York Times reported that Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, on 28 October 2008, stated in a parliamentary session that Kim had been hospitalized: "His condition is not so good. However, I don't think he is totally incapable of making decisions". Aso further said a French neurosurgeon was aboard a plane for Beijing, en route to North Korea. Further, Kim Sung-ho, director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, told lawmakers in a closed parliamentary session in Seoul that "Kim appeared to be recovering quickly enough to start performing his daily duties". The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper reported "a serious problem" with Kim's health. Japan's Fuji Television network reported that Kim's eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, traveled to Paris to hire a neurosurgeon for his father, and showed footage where the surgeon boarded flight CA121 bound for Pyongyang from Beijing on 24 October. The French weekly Le Point identified him as Francois-Xavier Roux, neurosurgery director of Paris' Sainte-Anne Hospital, but Roux himself stated he was in Beijing for several days and not North Korea. On 19 December 2011, Roux confirmed that Kim suffered a debilitating stroke in 2008 and was treated by himself and other French doctors at Pyongyang's Red Cross Hospital. Roux said Kim suffered few lasting effects.French doctor confirms Kim had stroke in 2008 (Associated Press via PhilStar), 19 December 2011.
by 29 octoBER 2008, reportS sTated kim suFferEd a SerioUs SEtbAck And HAd been taKen BacK To THE hospItaL. thE New York tiMes rEPOrTeD that Japanese PriMe minIsTer tAro Aso, On 28 octObeR 2008, StAted iN a parLIamEnTaRy seSsion thaT kIm had Been HosPITalizeD: "hIS condiTion IS NOt SO good. HOwEver, i don't tHiNk he is ToTally iNCApabLE of maKing deciSioNs". aso fURTher said A frEncH neurOSUrgEon waS aboarD a plane for bEiJiNg, en Route tO nOrth koRea. FUrther, Kim SUng-HO, diRectOr of south koRea's naTIOnaL inTelLIgEncE serViCe, Told lAWmakerS In A CloSed pARliaMEnTAry seSsiOn iN seoul THaT "kiM appeared to bE REcOVErInG QuiCkly enough to StArt PerFOrmiNg his daiLy duTIeS". The DOng-a Ilbo NeWsPapEr repOrTed "A serioUs prObLem" WITh kIm's hEaLth. japan's fuJi tEleVisIoN neTworK RePorted that kim's Eldest son, kim jong-Nam, TravelEd to parIs TO HIre A neurosUrGeon FOr his father, and SHowed FOotaGe wHere the SuRgeoN bOarded fLight cA121 BOUnD for pyOngyang FroM beIjIng On 24 OctoBer. the frenCh weeKly lE poInt IdEntIfieD hIM as frAncOis-xavIer rOuX, neURosurgery directoR of pAriS' sAINTe-anNe hOSPITaL, buT rOUx hImsELf StaTed HE WaS in bEijing fOr seveRAl daYS And Not NortH kOrEA. oN 19 dEcembeR 2011, rOUx cOnfirmeD THat kIm SuFFerEd A debIlItAting strOke in 2008 aNd Was TreaTeD bY himself And Other french doCtors at pyongyang'S red cROss hospITaL. RouX said kIM sUffered few laSTINg efFecTs.French dOctOR confirms kim HaD stRoKe iN 2008 (ASsOcIatED PresS via philsTaR), 19 dECember 2011.