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North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il, Dead At 69
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 18, 2011
Modified Dec 19, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 18, 2011
Modified Dec 19, 2011
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Kim Jong Il, Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is dead. The news broke on North Korean television in a special broadcast: The announcer, wearing black, explained that "Dear Leader" died of physical and mental "fatigue" during a train ride in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, on Saturday morning. Jong Il, an enigmatic despot who inherited the Communist nation from his father (the "Great Leader") in 1994, was 69. Here's video of the announcement:
According to the Wall Street Journal, North Korea State TV is saying that Kim Jong Un will lead North Korea; Jong Un, Jong Il's third son, who is thought to be in his late 20s, was his designated successor. Kim Jong Il inherited power after his father, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, died in 1994. Here are ten things that are known about Jong Un, including the fact he idolizes Michael Jordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaks multiple languages, and has his own theme song.
Jong Il's life was shrouded in mystery and rumor, especially when it came to his health. He was believed to have had diabetes and heart disease, and is also believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008. Despite becoming even more reclusive in the years after the stroke, he made sure to be photographed on trips to China and Russia looking healthy.
The BBC points out some of the contradictions and criticisms of Jong Il in this obituary:
The world's only hereditary communist ruler, he was criticised for flagrant human rights abuses and for threatening the stability of the region by pursuing a nuclear weapons programme and testing long-range missiles.
...
He was said to have personally ordered the shooting down of a South Korean airliner in 1987.
The South Korean media portrayed him as a vain man, a playboy with a bouffant hairstyle and sporting platform shoes in order to appear taller.
Anecdotal evidence suggests he was not as stupid as his southern neighbours made out, though his over-fondness for food and drink was probably true.
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Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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