North Korea's Kim Jong-Il pulls the strings at nuclear talks.

(From Agence France Presse)

The key to the puzzle of North Korea's intentions at upcoming nuclear crisis talks lies with one man, Kim Jong-Il, the secretive leader of the world's most reclusive regime.

Officials and analysts outside the Stalinist state are split over what North Korea really wants from the talks starting Wednesday and what motivates the man who is pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

The view persists of Kim, 62, as a heavy drinking buffoon with a penchant for haute-cuisine and fine cognac and a weakness for young virgins hand-picked for his own private "Pleasure Squad."

But he is no fool, despite his apparent love of …