(CBS/AP) SEOUL, South Korea - Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic leader, has died. He was 69.
Kim's death was announced Monday by the state television from the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.
Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008 but appeared relatively vigorous in photos and video from recent trips to China and Russia and in numerous trips around the country carefully documented by state media. The leader, reputed to have had a taste for cigars, cognac and gourmet cuisine, was believed to have had diabetes and heart disease.
He has already designated his son, Kim Jong-un, as his heir apparent. The Dear Leader took over the reigns in North Korea sometime between 1992 and 1994 after the death of his father, Kim Il-sung, who had ruled the country for 46 years.
The Kims seem poised to extend their more than 60-year dictatorial dynasty, but North Korean politics has long been shrouded in misinformation and mystery to the rest of the world. It is worth noting that many of the conditions that sparked the recent uprisings in the Mideast, like mass poverty and rampant corruption, exist in North Korea. That said, dissent is apparently crushed so thoroughly, it is hard to imagine any real democratic reforms in the The Democratic People's Republic of Korea anytime soon.
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:24 pm
by ∞∞∞
I imagine this is what it looks like in North Korea right now:
[youtube][/youtube]
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:32 pm
by Grizalltheway
∞∞∞ wrote:I imagine this is what it looks like in North Korea right now:
[youtube][/youtube]
I think it's more like this:
[youtube][/youtube]
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:53 pm
by ∞∞∞
While North Korea is a complete shit hole, Kim Jong-Il always seemed to be like the crazy grandpa type (plus the whole oppresive regime thing). You know, the one that while out with him, he'd tell you how you should be tapping the 20-year gal that just passed you by, and how if he was 60 years younger he'd be all over her...and the girl would hear everything he just said.
Anyways, godspeed Kim Jong-Il, godspeed...
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:00 pm
by Ivytalk
Not dead. As George Carlin said about Elvis, he just retired and is working in a garage in Buffalo.
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:17 pm
by Rob Iola
Man, I'm gonna miss him posting here - maybe Ahab can deliver a stirring eulogy...
I wonder if his son Kim Jong-un will be joining CS?
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:26 pm
by Screamin_Eagle174
I wonder if he died of roneryness.
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:47 pm
by CitadelGrad
I don't think it's coincidental now but last week the North Korean media did a lot of features on Kim Jong Il's son, extolling his virtues. I guess they knew something was up.
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:55 pm
by kalm
Rob Iola wrote:Man, I'm gonna miss him posting here - maybe Ahab can deliver a stirring eulogy...
I wonder if his son Kim Jong-un will be joining CS?
Prus 1
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:55 pm
by griz37
I hope Arec Barrwin can rest a little easier tonight!
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:34 pm
by CitadelGrad
Happier times in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
[youtube][/youtube]
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:53 pm
by CitadelGrad
Damned youtube video didn't load.
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:54 pm
by Pwns
What will the North Korean state TV say he died from? Fighting a three-headed dragon or shooting down nuclear missles in his X-wing?
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:59 pm
by youngterrier
Pwns wrote:What will the North Korean state TV say he died from? Fighting a three-headed dragon or shooting down nuclear missles in his X-wing?
He was defeated by Super Saiyan 4 Goku, but only because his Jesus Cancer effected his chi level to a certain point
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:09 pm
by Rob Iola
Lightning struck, and they were fresh out of musk deer gland oil...
Re: BREAKING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:36 am
by Ibanez
At one point, Kim Jong Il's eldest son, Kim Jung Nam, was considered the top candidate to succeed his father before he fell out of favor after he got caught trying to sneak a trip to Tokyo Disneyland using a forged passport