Kim Jong-Il dead at 70

[Netjet!]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-1...nhap-says.html


Whoa... totally unexpected.

Kim Jong Il, the second-generation North Korean dictator who defied global condemnation to build nuclear weapons while his people starved, has died, Yonhap News reported. He was 70.

The news came in a radio broadcast at noon local time, Yonhap reported, citing North Korea’s official media. Kim probably had a stroke in August 2008 and may have also contracted pancreatic cancer, according to South Korean news reports.

The son of Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s founder, Kim was a chain-smoking recluse who ruled for 17 years after coming to power in July 1994 and resisted opening up to the outside world in order to protect his regime. The potential succession of his little-known third son, Kim Jong Un, threatens to trigger a dangerous period for the Korean peninsula, where 1.7 million troops from the two Koreas and the U.S. square off every day.

“Kim Jong Il inherited a genius for playing the weak hand and by keeping the major powers nervous, continuing his father’s tradition of turning Korea’s history of subservience on its head,” said Michael Breen, the Seoul-based author of “Kim Jong Il: North Korea’s Dear Leader,” a biography. “We have entered an uncertain moment with North Korea.”
Lampooned by foreign cartoonists and filmmakers for his weight, his zippered jumpsuits, his aviator sunglasses and his bouffant hairdo, Kim cut a more serious figure in his rare dealings with world leaders outside the Communist bloc.

[One Winged Angel]

Ameeeeeericaaaaaaa, fuck yeah

[bmah]

Considering his poor health condition as of late, it wasn't that unexpected. But iirc, he already has his son appointed to direct the country.

[dragonmegaXX]

About time.

[DotKritic]

You can get the thread done ahead of me, but you can't even get his age right.

edit: And where the news report came from, they can't get it right either.

[psychoangel691]

Originally Posted by DotKritic

You can get the thread done ahead of me, but you can't even get his age right.

The article says 70, not his fault if that's incorrect. I read he was 69, but either way close enough...

[justin_ator]

Somebody is a lil butthurt...lol

Interesting news, didn't really expect it but reading the article it sounds like it was kinda coming sooner or later.

[DotKritic]

Either way...too bad he's going to miss out on this year's Christmas.

So close.

[i love you]

RIP

[Jerry DB]

I got ninja'd by owa by quite a bit but still...It will be like 911 time 1000

[ghost-]

as a soldier, i feel a bit relieved

[phe0nixblade]

madmatt butthurt he didnt get to post a news report first
back on topic
wonder if his kid will change the way korea is now, maybe open it up to the rest of the world or anything

[Izzi]

How exactly will this affect north korea as a country?

[ghost-]

Originally Posted by Izzi

How exactly will this affect north korea as a country?

not sure, i'm guessing the kid's gonna need some time to get situated and plan out what he's going to do next. probably decide what would be best for the country?

[Magicturbo]

Originally Posted by ghost-

not sure, i'm guessing the kid's gonna need some time to get situated and plan out what he's going to do next. probably decide what would be best for the country?

Can this kid honestly make proper decisions or plans? I'm really curious of who he's going to refer to and who's going to influence his decisions towards things.

[emerald000]

Originally Posted by ghost-

not sure, i'm guessing the kid's gonna need some time to get situated and plan out what he's going to do next. probably decide what would be best for the country?

I am pretty sure he will be looking for what would be best for his regime rather than for his country.

[leonid]

I'm a bit worried

[Choofers]

Originally Posted by leonid

I'm a bit worried

^

I'd imagine that this would throw both Korea's into some kind of chaos.

[Thatskier]

[Choofers]

ps I don't know why you would post that since America had nothing to do with his death