Earth, Sky Celebrate Kim Jong-Il's B-day

Temperatures in North Korea are warmer than normal, willow catkins are in bloom, and the moon is sporting a halo—all thanks to Kim Jong-Il. A Korean news agency says “that even the nature and the sky unfolded such mysterious ecstasy in celebration of the birthday” of the North Korean leader, who turns 67 next week, the Telegraph reports.

A state-sanctioned personality cult surrounds Kim, whose official biography is shrouded in myths that claim rainbows sprouted overhead during his birth and that he made 11 holes in one in a single round of golf. Meanwhile, a US official says Kim, who reportedly suffered a stroke last year, has recently been “making key decisions,” signaling that “his health has improved significantly.”
(More Kim Jong Il stories.)