Kim Jong Il, Leader of North Korea, dead at 69

[Machias Banshee]

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic leader, has died. He was 69.

Kim's death was announced Monday by state television from the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008 but appeared relatively vigorous in photos and video from recent trips to China and Russia and in numerous trips around the country carefully documented by state media.

The leader, reputed to have had a taste for cigars, cognac and gourmet cuisine, was believed to have had diabetes and heart disease.

The news came as North Korea prepared for a hereditary succession. Kim Jong Il inherited power after his father, revered North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, died in 1994.

In September 2010, Kim Jong Il unveiled his third son, the twenty-something Kim Jong Un, as his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts.


Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

This showed up on our local paper before I saw it anywhere else. Definitely did not expect this at all... My only question is, what is the son going to be like as a ruler?

[Ninjinister]

<Insert KJI name/death pun here>

I hear the chosen successor spends a lot of his time playing video games and eating nachos. I'm not kidding. Strangely, it might be that kind of attitude that burrows North Korea out of joke status and looked at as an actual nation.

Eh. What do I know about politics, though?

[Roseangelo]

Kim Jong Il's death is good news for the world, but it's hard to say if any good will come to the North Korean people. Kim Jong Il was also a hypocrite, as he was known for enjoying movies and other things from Western culture. North Koreans are all basically brainwashed, and it is not Kim Jong Il they worship, but Kim Il Sung. Kim Jong Un is actually given little respect from the North Koreans. So what happens when a brainwashed society is presented with a leader even they don't respect? This could get interesting...

[ZariusTwo]

I beleive the pit of Cyrock is calling

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I just saw this on MSN. It'll be interesting to see how the son takes over and what he does. As for KJI's death, I'm indifferent to it. He was a jerk anyway.

[Ninjinister]

Never mind. I had the wrong son.

[kool75uk1]

5TEvacFETvM

jdug6yHJB40

[Redeemer]

This showed up on our local paper before I saw it anywhere else. Definitely did not expect this at all... My only question is, what is the son going to be like as a ruler?

Wow I didnt even hear about this, pretty sad that there isnt more talk about this...... I will say that it may be a good thing unless the son is worse than the father...... hopefully not

[IamtheNorm]

Kim Jong Il's death is good news for the world, but it's hard to say if any good will come to the North Korean people. Kim Jong Il was also a hypocrite, as he was known for enjoying movies and other things from Western culture. North Koreans are all basically brainwashed, and it is not Kim Jong Il they worship, but Kim Il Sung. Kim Jong Un is actually given little respect from the North Koreans. So what happens when a brainwashed society is presented with a leader even they don't respect? This could get interesting...

My thoughts exactly

[Katie]

Crazy.

This was a guy that the North Koreans looked at as basically the son of a god (complete with being born in a humble shack on a sacred mountian under a special star.......what??)

his son was educated in a swiss boarding school....maybe it won't be bad if he can hold on to power. He could be a lot more open minded.

What absolutely terrifies me is the scenario where a coup d'etat happens and some even crazier whackbag decides to show his supremacy by firing off the nukes.

[Donnie]

I'm hoping this will be a positive thing, but we'll just have to wait and see...

[TheCanadiandrome]

Ding dong the b@stards gone!! Now the sob can rot in hell with Saddam and Osama! Good riddance to another douchebag!

[Cowabunga Carl]

See we only see this from the Western point of view. To the people he ruled he is very different. I really think this is something that leaders of the world need to thing about as we move forward.

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

See we only see this from the Western point of view. To the people he ruled he is very different. I really think this is something that leaders of the world need to thing about as we move forward.

I imagine our leaders would know. In any case there are people who aren't entirely happy that Gadaffi got killed, even though they hated him. It's a matter of what comes afterward...

[MetalWarriorX93]

jdug6yHJB40 Haha, I was thinking of that scene when I saw the news.

[TheCanadiandrome]

I imagine our leaders would know. In any case there are people who aren't entirely happy that Gadaffi got killed, even though they hated him. It's a matter of what comes afterward...

yeah it is what it is

[That Matt Guy]

RIP dear leader.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

North Korea at least has a good women's soccer national team. I have not heard of much other sporting successes among them. Many other communist states were not bad in sporting.

[Sage Ninja]

I'm hoping this will be a positive thing, but we'll just have to wait and see...

North Korea To Punish Mourners Who Were Insincere

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/north-korea-punish-mourners-insincere-kim-jong-il_n_1204377.html

just look at some of the pictures of the mourners. When I first read the news of the Kin Jong passing away and saw the people balling there eyes out fainting, I though "huh...really?" :ohwell: Now I know why for the display of theatrics. The thought of getting sent to a labor camp with a 40% death rate would make me cry too.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

North Korea To Punish Mourners Who Were Insincere

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/north-korea-punish-mourners-insincere-kim-jong-il_n_1204377.html

just look at some of the pictures of the mourners. When I first read the news of the Kin Jong passing away and saw the people balling there eyes out fainting, I though "huh...really?" :ohwell: Now I know why for the display of theatrics. The thought of getting sent to a labor camp with a 40% death rate would make me cry too.

I would like to know more about conditions in those labour camps.

[BubblyShell22]

Wow, seriously? Yeah, I'd fake being sad too if I were them.