Kim Jong-il, North Korea’s leader, is probably hospitalized but still capable of making decisions, Japan’s prime minister, Taro Aso, said Tuesday.

Kim Jong-il, North Korea’s leader, is probably hospitalized but still capable of making decisions, Japan’s prime minister, Taro Aso, said Tuesday.

Kim Jong-il, North Korea’s leader, is probably hospitalized but still capable of making decisions, Japan’s prime minister, Taro Aso, said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Taro Aso’s fledgling government suffered an early blow when Nariaki Nakayama resigned for verbal gaffes that caused public outrage.

In his first news conference as prime minister, Taro Aso said his priority was to revive the economy.

Taro Aso, a veteran politician who fought for years to win Japan’s top political post, was officially named prime minister on Wednesday.

Taro Aso, a veteran politician who fought for years to win Japan’s top political post, was officially named prime minister on Wednesday.

Taro Aso, an outspoken conservative who campaigned with promises to stimulate Japan’s flagging economy, was chosen to become the next prime minister.

It is not clear that Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party’s push for reform is anything more than a show.