"North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may have begun seriously thinking about picking his successor quite recently after his health apparently failed in August, " (The Korean Herald,
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/19/200901190080.asp)
Now, correct me if I'm wrong.. but if your health fails... aren't you usually dead? or would that be more of a life failure?