UPDATE 1 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dies during train ride

[News_Editor]

UPDATE 1 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dies during train ride

2011-12-19 10:17:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

PYONGYANG (BNO NEWS) -- The Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, died of physical fatigue on early Saturday morning, state-run media announced on Monday afternoon. He was 69 or 70 years old.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim died at around 8.30 a.m. local time on Saturday. It said he died of physical fatigue during a train ride, but gave no other details.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-19

[Crushdepth]

A great loss. With Gaddafi gone as well, who is left to guide the world's fashion industry?

[webfact]

NORTH KOREA

North Korean leader Kim Jong Ill dies

Seoul - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has died, North Korean state television reported Monday. According to his official biography, he was 69.

Kim died of fatigue Saturday morning during a train journey, an announcer on state television who was dressed in black said as her voice shook.

Kim isolated his country, brought it to the brink of economic ruin and made it reliant on foreign aid. He also led one of the largest armies in the world and provoked international fears with North Korea’s nuclear programme.

News about Kim has been tightly controlled, but his health was believed to have been poor after he suffered a stroke in 2008, according to intelligence reports.

Since then, speculation swirled about who would take over from him. The questions appeared to be answered when Kim named his third and youngest son, Kim Jong Un, to senior posts at the party meeting in September 2010. The appointments were similar to those the elder Kim received before he succeeded his own father in 1994.

-- The Nation 2011-12-19

[webfact]

Kim Jong Il: The man behind North Korea's nuclear bomb

Seoul - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il isolated his country and brought it to the brink of economic ruin. Despite the poverty and famine that have plagued his country, Kim headed one of the largest armies in the world and provoked fear across the globe by purportedly developing a nuclear arsenal.

While he was vilified in the foreign media, at home, the 69-year-old, who died on Saturday, of "fatigue" during a train journey according to North Korean media reports, has been celebrated as a godlike figure, his birthday on February 16 a national holiday.

However, other than his small stature (160 centimetres) and his trademark large glasses and khaki suit, the "Dear Leader" remained an enigmatic and contradictory figure, thanks in large part to the secretiveness of the North Korean regime.

While Kim was considered an erratic figure even before his accession to power, former South Korean president Kim Dae Jung, who met him at a historic 2000 summit, characterized him as a person with a "sharp mind" who knew very well what was going on in the world.

For North Korea’s 23 million people, Kim Jong Il was known as a revolutionary and "genius of literature, art and military strategy."

Pictures of him and his father, "Great Leader" and "Eternal President" Kim Il Sung, from whom he took over power and a personality cult, hang in nearly all public buildings and apartments.

What little is known about Kim Jong Il comes from Pyongyang’s propoganda mill. According to official lore, his birth was greeted by a double rainbow over sacred Mount Paektu in northern Korea and a new star in the heavens.

Rumours about his health abounded in 2008 when he failed to attend a ceremony commemorating the country’s 60th anniversary in August. North Korea vehemently denied South Korean intelligence reports that Kim, who was believed to suffer from high blood pressure, had a stroke.

Kim Jong Il’s private life, as well as his relationships with women and the lives of his children - there are at least four, a daughter and three sons - were taboo subjects for the national media.

In the Western media, the "Dear Father" was painted as an eccentric ladies’ man who loved fine cuisine, luxury cars, alcohol and the cinema and suffers from cardiac problems.

He was also rumoured to have had a role in planning terrorist attacks on South Korea, which Pyongyang dismissed as Western propoganda.

The course of Kim Jong Il’s policies were equally subject to speculation, even after more than a decade as leader of his Stalinist regime.

One path, however, was clear. Kim Jong Il repeatedly took on the United States, and according to the logic of the North Korean regime, a nuclear arsenal is the only security against a US attack. That policy culminated a nuclear weapons test in October 2006.

In February 2007, North Korea agreed in multilateral talks to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme, a process which since then has faced several setbacks, notably over the country’s removal from a US terrorism blacklist.

After the death of his father, who had ruled North Korea from its foundation in 1948 until his sudden death in 1994, Kim Jong Il took power as the successor in the world’s first communist dynasty.

Until then, his life had been spent preparing to rule North Korea. Kim Jong Il not only took over all positions held by his deceased father, but he also skillfully assimilated his father’s personality cult and played on his father’s charisma, which he himself was lacking.

It was as if the ghost of the "Great Leader" kept reigning.

After attending school in China and studying political economy at Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Il began in 1964 to climb up the ranks of the Korean Workers’ Party.

By 1973, the 31-year-old Kim Jong Il held a key position in the communist party as party secretary of organisation and propaganda, and was named his father’s successor a year later.

He became a member of the Politburo and the powerful National Defence Commission in 1980, the true centre of power in North Korea. On December 24, 1991, he took the first of the three titles he held until his death - supreme commander of the North Korean armed forces

When the elder Kim died suddenly in July 1994, his son took up his other two offices. He had to wait through a three-year mourning period before being officially named general secretary of the Workers’ Party and then chairman of the Defence Commission in 1998.

Koreans across the peninsula remember the first North-South summit meeting, held in June 2000 in Pyongyang between Kim Jong Il and Kim Dae Jung.

The meeting was hailed by both leaders as an important step toward Korean reconciliation and gave hope - at least for a time. Since then, however, the countries’ path toward rapprochement has experienced continual setbacks.

Relations deteriorated considerably when conservative President Lee Myung Bak took office in Seoul in 2008.

The two countries remain technically at war since an armistice, as no peace treaty ended the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Kim Jong Il’s death puts a big question mark over the future of both relations with the South and the international community, not to mention the country’s nuclear weapons programme, as his possible succession is as enigmatic as the departed leader himself.

-- The Nation 2011-12-19

[pimay11]

A great loss. With Gaddafi gone as well, who is left to guide the world's fashion industry?

The “Fact”: He was a fashion trendsetter

Kim Jong Il’s iconic style has become a global phenomenon. The inspired look of his zipped up khaki tunics with matching pants has been spreading across the world, an obvious testament to his outstanding image and influence. He is also famous for his 4 inch platform shoes, but his oversized shades definitely seem to be a big hit with the women of Hollywood.

[3stan]

thats what too much cognac and caviar does to a man. you will not be missed.

[webfact]

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is dead, North Korean state TV said Monday.

Kim, 69, died Saturday, state TV said.

The son of Kim Il Song, the founder of the communist nation, Kim Jong Il had been in power since 1994 when his father died of a heart attack at age 82.

The enigmatic leader was a frequent thorn in the side of neighboring South Korea, as well as the United States. There have been reports in recent years about his health, as well as that power will be transitioned to his son, Kim Jong Un.

-- CNN Newsletter

[KarenBravo]

2011........a bad year for dictators world-wide.

[SAffer]

2011........a bad year for dictators world-wide.

Robert Mugabe next?? There is still time.

[VictorOne]

About time that there was some good news.

The world is now a better (safer) place.

[webfact]

RT @mpoppel: White House statement

RT @mpoppel: White House: We are closely monitoring reports that Kim Jong Il is dead.

RT @mpoppel: White House: The President has been notified, and we are in close touch with our allies in South Korea and Japan.

RT @mpoppel: White House: We remain committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies.

[webfact]

RT @mpoppel: VIDEO: See how North Korean TV announced Kim's death - http://tinyurl.com/ctyybxz

[EvilDrSomkid]

Joke all you want, guys, but now that he is dead and his son is still young and inexperienced, there will be a lot of uncertainty on the Korean peninsula.

You can bet that both Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing are in high alert mode right now.

edit: More to the point, if some one feels frisky and decides to make a daring move, it could escalate very badly.

Edited December 19, 2011 by EvilDrSomkid

[bangkokrick]

About time that there was some good news.

The world is now a better (safer) place.

I doubt that the world will be any safer because his son will just take over where he left off. Never the less it is good news that any despot dies.

[laurentbkk]

a great news to start the week .... the problem will be ...who's next to rule that country .... I guess the sons are like their father ... I am so sorry for the north korean people ..

[Phil Conners]

Kim Jong-il, died of physical fatigue

Hard work being a fascist dictator crushing your population under your steel boot.

[blazes]

I'd better re-do my will....I often feel physical fatigue. Didn't know one could actually die of it.

[bruiser]

A great loss. With Gaddafi gone as well, who is left to guide the world's fashion industry?

Gee what a terrible loss, what a way to die on a train of physical exertion, poor thing I guess his valet was not available to feed him, hope they punish him/her accordinly, think I will burn my Kaki outfits as a tribute to him, I know i will not be able to sleep for a couple of days, guess the good news is that his clone Son will be stepping into his 4" heel shoes, what a man, who else could manage to have thousands of people applaud him untill he signaled them to stop, without fear of hanging or firing squad RIP Kim Jong-iL

[bristolgeoff]

he was a threat to a point but not a big one.the biggest problem is with its neighbour sth korea.

[orosee]

Death by caviar & cognac!

If such is the fate of a dictator, I'd expect to see a tsunami of job applications come in next year.

He was relatively young at 69, but I'm sure he enjoyed most of it, unlike his subjects. Followed by a son who looks like he's a college senior. Not sure if that's a real improvement, "better the devil we know...".

So here's the rule #1 for all dictators: "Live excessively! Die young(ish)!"

If you've seen that one before: The same rule is used by Hollywood actors.

[swisstouristpattaya]

Burn in hell now!

sent from tapatalk :-) All a bunch of losers. We will get them one by one until these dictators disappear from earth.

Edited December 19, 2011 by swisstouristpattaya

[eladblum]

So sad..

[ThaiPauly]

His Congnac supplier will probably go bust.

But seriously I am more concerned about world peace as soon as his son gets his hand on the tiller

Nasty piece of work from what I have seen of him...better the devil you know

[mrdome]

dam_n, we are losing all sharp dressed dictators. Him & Gaddafi were my favorite dressers!

I'm sure they will rustle up 100,000 weeping virgins who shall wail for the next 25 years at his tomb.

Now who from the West will attend the funeral and make a great speech about Kim Jong-Il's (culinary) achievements? I heard he could eat quite a lot and was a big connoisseur of fine foods while his countrymen enjoyed rather more rustic "home cooking" like "chien de la rue ens eau chaux".

Edited December 19, 2011 by mrdome

[dominique355]

2011........a bad year for dictators world-wide.

Robert Mugabe next?? There is still time.

... or Assad?

Next in line to tumble might include Putin, Chavez

[mushepea]

That is definately a good christmas present for the starving 23million poor souls in n. korea.

but the kid looks like another nasty, lets hope he takes a similar position to raul castro and begins some reforming away from the commie ideology of poverty and crop failure. but i fear he will be another ruthless dictator though, his dad chose him for a reason.

it is time for the n. koreans to take to the streets and have a revolution. get rid of their opressors. there must be 100s there ready for the court in the haige for crimes against humanity.

good luck to the people of n.korea.

[HerbalEd]

About time that there was some good news.

The world is now a better (safer) place.

I wish you were right, but the son is as nuts and the father.

[JSPS]

I guess it would be too much to ask for his son to be less that a total fruitcake.

They're all fruitcakes in North Korea. Everyone else is gone, dead or in a prison camp in Russia.

[HerbalEd]

he was a threat to a point but not a big one.the biggest problem is with its neighbour sth korea.

And what world do you live in?

[jackr]

Robert Mugabe next?? There is still time.

Beat me to it. It's bastards like him living so long makes me think there must be some kind of nirvana and the unfortunates are made to live longer as some kind of punishment.

But all in all a pretty good year.