Kim Jong Dead

Kim Jong Dead

I hope he's in a warm corner of hell: The world is better off without Kim Jong Il who's gone to join Gaddafi, Bin Laden and Hitler.

Kim Jong Il, North Korea's longtime dictator, came into power in 1994  succeeding his father Kim Il Sung, and eventually taking the posts of chairman of the National Defense Commission, commander of the Korean People’s Army and head of the ruling Worker’s Party while his father remained as North Korea’s “eternal president.”

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s state news agency, issued several statements on Monday. A release titled “Kim Jong Il Passes Away (Urgent)”. A "special broadcast" from the North Korean capital, state media said the 69-year-old died of a heart ailment on a train due to a "great mental and physical strain" during a "high intensity field inspection." A separate article entitled “Medical Analysis of Kim Jong Il’s demise” added that Kim suffered an “advanced acute myocardial infarction, complicated with a serious heart shock.” It said an autopsy was done and "fully confirmed" the diagnosis.

A spokesperson at the Unification Ministry confirmed Kim's death. His funeral will be held on December 28 in the capital of Pyongyang.

His death sparked immediate concern over who is in control of the reclusive state and its nuclear program.


The Great Successor

Kim Jong Un, the youngest of the leader's three sons, is unveiled as the successor in September 2010.

He is the successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche and leader of the party, army and people. Juche is the North's homegrown political ideology of self reliance. His uncle Jang Song Thaek is expected to rule behind the scenes as he trains on the job.

Not much is known about the younger Kim, not even his age. Kim was most likely born in 1984.  His name in Chinese characters translates as "righteous cloud" while the media calls him "the young general."

He is said to have a fondness for James Bond and basketball star Michael Jordan - and is believed to have been schooled in Switzerland. Sources say he speaks some English, German and French.

Kim Jong Il's eldest son, Kim Jung Nam, was supposed to be his heir. But he fell out of favour after he was caught trying to sneak a trip to Tokyo Disneyland using a forged passport.

He since said he opposes the 'hereditary succession for three generations' but said he would like his younger brother 'to do his best for the people of North Korea and their true wealth'.

Experts have said Kim Jong Un is not ready to rule as he has only been groomed for the job for three years. His father was groomed for 14 years before taking control in 1994.

Thought to be aged around 27, Kim Jong Un had already been made a four-star general and North Korea’s autocratic regime had already made preparations for Jong Un’s transition to power.

Jong Un  already occupied a prominent political post when he was reported to have made an important diplomatic visit to neighboring China in May this year.

On the trip, he introduced himself to the destitute North's main benefactor, possibly one of the most crucial diplomatic moves he will ever make.

The rest of the world is going to have to look at someone who is basically a kid as having China's support to be the North's next leader.


A Life of Luxury

Kim Jong Il reportedly already suffered a stroke in 2008, but appeared relatively healthy on recent trips around Asia, which were documented by state media.

Reputed to have had a taste for cigars, cognac and gourmet cuisine and Hollywood movies, it was widely believed Kim suffered from diabetes and had heart disease.

But while he lived with his inner circle in the lap of luxury, his people lived in fear and most in abject poverty, suffering regular food shortages and near famine.

He faithfully carried out his father’s policy of “military first,” devoting much of the country’s scarce resources to its troops — even as his people suffered from a prolonged famine — and built the world’s fifth-largest military and nuclear arms arsenal.

He  allowed his people to starve while building this vast military.