North Korean leader Kim Jong-il apparently did not have brain surgery, although he has been rumored to be seriously ill.

Wang Jiarui, the head of the international department of China’s Communist Party, said he did not notice any signs that Kim had had brain surgery during his meeting with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang last month.

According to diplomatic sources in Beijing, Wang did not see any marks that could have been left by brain surgery during the meeting.

The North Korean leader apparently had no difficulty using his hands at the meeting. He is known to have held a letter from Chinese President Hu Jintao, which was delivered by Wang, with both hands.