NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-il IS DEAD

19 December, 2011 CNN

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has died of a heart attack at the age of 69, state media has announced.

Millions of North Koreans had been "engulfed in indescribable sadness", the KCNA news agency said. People were seen weeping in the capital Pyongyang.

His son Kim Jong-un was described by KCNA as the "great successor" who North Koreans should unite behind.

Pyongyang's neighbours are on alert. Unconfirmed South Korean reports say the North tested a missile on Monday.

Yonhap news agency in Seoul said a short-range missile was fired off the eastern coast of the poor and isolated nuclear-armed nation on Monday, but it was not clear if the test was connected to the announcement of Kim Jong-il's death.

South Korea put its armed forces on alert after the announcement, saying the country was on a crisis footing. Japan's government convened a special security meeting.

China - North Korea's closest ally and biggest trading partner - expressed shock at the news of his death and pledged to continue making "active contributions to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in this region".

Asian stock markets fell after the news was announced.
Crying aloud

The announcement of Kim Jong-il's death came in an emotional statement read out on national television.

The announcer, wearing black, struggled to keep back the tears as she said he had died of physical and mental over-work.

The KCNA later reported that he had died of a "severe myocardial infarction along with a heart attack" at 08:30 local time on Saturday (23:30 GMT Friday).

He had been on a train at the time, for one of his "field guidance" tours, KCNA said.

The state news agency said a funeral would be held in Pyongyang on 28 December and Kim Jong-un would head the funeral committee. A period of national mourning has been declared from 17 to 29 December.

Images from inside the secretive state showed people in the streets of Pyongyang weeping at the news of his death.

Ruling party members in one North Korean county were shown by state TV banging tables and crying out loud, the AFP news agency reports.

"I can't believe it. How can he go like this? What are we supposed to do?" a party member named as Kang Tae-Ho was quoted as saying.

Another, Hong Sun-Ok, said: "He tried so hard to make our lives much better and he just left like this."

KCNA said people were "convulsing with pain and despair" at their loss, but would unite behind his successor Kim Jong-un.

"All party members, military men and the public should faithfully follow the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-un and protect and further strengthen the unified front of the party, military and the public," the news agency said.

Little is known about Kim Jong-un. He was educated in Switzerland, aged in his late 20s, and is believed to be Kim Jong-il's third son - born to Mr Kim's reportedly favourite wife, the late Ko Yong-hui.

Kim Jong-un was unveiled as his father's likely successor just over a year ago. Many had expected to see this process further consolidated in 2012.
'Turning point'

South Korea - which remains technically at war with the north - urged people to "go about their usual economic activities" on Monday, while putting the military on alert.

President Lee Myung-Bak spoke to US President Barack Obama by telephone and they "agreed to closely co-operate and monitor the situation together," a South Korean presidential spokesman said.

Reaction from Washington was muted, with the White House saying it was "closely monitoring" reports of the death.

The US remained "committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies", it said in a statement.

China said it was "distressed" to hear the news of his death. "We express our grief about this and extend our condolences to the people of North Korea," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.

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[Dremoracaptain111]

i guess kim was il

[Hereticbooks]

Great time for a revolution.

[McRoberts1000]

No offense but kim il sung governed north korea way better than kim jong il...

My personal opinion so dont take this too serious

[Realone95]

Kim Jong Il is better off being DEAD!

[Realone95]

Kim Jong Il has one thing in common with Kim Il Sung. THEY'RE BOTH BETTER OFF BEING D-E-A-D DEAD!

[MyRiseToHonor]

SimonIsoCool! Oooooooooh Yeah! Hea hea, that's pretty cool Butthead! Nothing ever gets past you! ROTFF

[SimonIsoCool]

Beavis, look look. He was 69! HAA.HAH.AAAH.AAAH.AHAH.AAHA.

[MultiSamTaylor]

I mourn for his family and friends.

[kaysandesses]

@biggydx "Thats why he should be impeached."

The accuracy of your claims notwithstanding, I suggest you review the list of impeachable transgressions.

So which of those "offenses" constitute treason, bribery or other high crimes or misdemeanors?

[1988scottcarey]

we are probably going to bomb the shit out of a certain country within the next 8 months

[biggydx]

@kaysandesses The National Defense Authorization Act and the Patriot Act. There arent enough characters for me to go into detail, but the former ends American Due Process and the latter allows federal agencies and telecoms to go into your private information WITHOUT a warrant.

This in addition to him saying he has the power to assassinate US citizens. I am a Liberal but something everyone should agree is that civil liberties are non-negotiable. Thats why he should be impeached.

[kaysandesses]

@biggydx ON what grounds do you think Obama should be impeached?