ANALYSIS-Change in N.Korea?

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ANALYSIS-Change in N.Korea, or does news expand in vacuum?

In the past week, unsubstantiated or knocked-down rumours in financial markets in New York, Tokyo and Seoul have variously had North Korean leader Kim Jong-il assassinated or overthrown, just as pressure grows for him to rejoin talks on his nuclear plans.

More concrete -- but subsequently exaggerated -- reports from diplomats and officials say some of the long ubiquitous portraits of Kim have been removed from public places and fewer people are wearing lapel badges of Kim.