BREAKING: Kim Jong Il has died

[jaxx]

Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s mercurial and enigmatic leader, has died

By Associated Press, Updated: Sunday, December 18, 9:47 PM

PYONGYANG, North Korea — Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s mercurial and enigmatic longtime leader, has died of heart failure. He was 69.

In a “special broadcast” Monday from the North Korean capital, state media said Kim died of a heart ailment on a train due to a “great mental and physical strain” on Dec. 17 during a “high intensity field inspection.” It said an autopsy was done on Dec. 18 and “fully confirmed” the diagnosis.

<..> South Korean media, including Yonhap news agency, said South Korea put its military on “high alert” and President Lee Myung-bak convened a national security council meeting after the news of Kim’s death. Officials couldn’t immediately confirm the reports.

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.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia...l_national

Now what?

[jaxx]

NBCNews NBC News
White House statement: "The President has been notified, and we are in close touch with our allies in South Korea and Japan."
6 minutes ago

[There Is No Spoon]

Cool. He was a fucking piece of shit.

[NanceGreggs]

(12-18-2011 10:24 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote:  Cool. He was a fucking piece of shit.

Pretty much my take, as well.

[jaxx]

Yeah he was a nasty piece of humanity. I hope the son will be better.

Interesting pics of NK from August.....

Inside North Korea
Aug 2, 2011 |
Earlier this year, David Guttenfelder, chief Asia photographer for the Associated Press, along with Jean H. Lee, AP bureau chief in Seoul, were granted unprecedented access to parts of North Korea as part of the AP's efforts to expand coverage of the isolated communist nation.

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/...ea/100119/

[Brainwreck]

I am not sorry to hear that Kim Jong Il died, but I am not feeling easy about it either. There is that thing about knowing your enemy. We can only hope the son is less threatening.

[Treestar]

Thanks for the link to the photos, Jaxx! I find photos of NK fascinating.

If I recall correctly, the people might be very upset as they tended to idolize the leader.

[jaxx]

(12-19-2011 09:10 AM)Treestar Wrote:  Thanks for the link to the photos, Jaxx! I find photos of NK fascinating.

If I recall correctly, the people might be very upset as they tended to idolize the leader.

From what I've read, yes the people are very sad to lose their dear leader. Reports of people crying in the streets, in banks, all over. I suppose it's what you get used to, and what you are told about the person.

I liked the photos too, a study in contrast of the different areas.

[Dimwitted Fool]

with his itchy little fingers on nukes aimed at Japan and South Korea.

That's a scary place.