Kim Jong Il,
who dictatorially ruled North Korea for 17 years, is dead at the age of 69. The
official announcement appeared on North Korean state television this morning,
with a dressed-in-black tearful presenter.
According to
the official report, Kim Jong Il experienced a heart attack while he was on a
train, during what it called a “field inspection.” The reports say every
possible measure was taken to save his life, but that an examination on Sunday
confirmed the cause of death. North Korean leader is said to have suffered a stroke
earlier in 2008 as well, appearing visibly weak in a few of the photos that
were released recently.
As far as North
Korea is a Communist country, a system of hereditary succession is successfully
maintained. Kim Jong Il had his leadership inherited from his father, Kim Il
Sung, who passed away in 1994. Now the new leader will be Kim Jong Il’s
youngest son Kim Jong Un, officially named as throne successor by his father in
2010.
The experts
find the death of the dictator to be somewhat “surprising”, here is why:
despite of being a sort of failed state, North Korea is also a dangerous one as
long as it has the nuclear power. The unexpected death of the leader definitely
produced deep worries, together with high uncertainty and instability as well.
Not long after the announcement of Kim’s passing away, South Korean military is
put on “high alert”, with the president Lee Myung-bak calling his national
security council up.
As for the
US, The White House has declared that President Barack Obama had been notified
and U.S. officials are communicating with their South Korean and Japanese counterparts.
Even China, believed to have as close relationships with North Korea as “lips
and teeth”, is concerned about North Korean nuclear ambitions.
The official
funeral for Kim Jong Il is appointed on December 28, with heir Kim Jong Un named
as the head of the funeral committee.
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