NORTH KOREA . . . BACK TO THE TABLE, AND IN CONTROL

The U.S. and North Korea agreed to resume talks over Pyongyang's nuclear program Sept. 23. At the top of the agenda: Mounting rumors, amplified by South Korea, that Kim Jong Il faces internal and external problems in succeeding the late Kim Il Sung as head of state. He hasn't been seen in public since his father's funeral on July 20. But things may settle down: Both South Korea's spy chief and its ambassador to Washington reversed course today, saying they thought the big-haired playboy was in full control.