OT: Kim Jong Il is dead.

[Schone23666]

Just announced tearfully on North Korean television that the "Dear Leader" is dead from "being overworked" while traveling to provide "field guidance".

So...I guess the first question is....does Kim's pudgy-faced son also have a knack for bouffant hairdos and platform shoes? :p

Oh, and my Korean mother's opinion can be summed up in two words: "Good Riddance."

[Targan]

Nice that there's a happy story in the news for once! I heartily endorse the "Glorious Leader's" transition from Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Dead, an excellent Korea move for him. Now if only the rest of his Il-begotten family and associated minions would follow his fine example we might see some progress in the DPRK. The general populace there must be well sick and tired of munching down grass stalks and tree bark by now.

[Matt Wiser]

Goodbye and good riddance. Now, will the cult that masquerades as the country of North Korea follow him into oblivion?

[ArmySGT.]

My name is Paul, and I approve of this message.

[Webstral]

Ding dong, the witch is dead...!

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Ding dong, the witch is dead...!

or rather, "Kim Jong, the witch is dead!"

[dragoon500ly]

The real question now is...who is going to succeed him as North Korea's new strongman?

Does his recently introduced son have the following to assume power? Or will a junta from the military assume control? Either way, look for unrest as the new government takes power, possibly more border disputes.....

[Schone23666]

The real question now is...who is going to succeed him as North Korea's new strongman?

Does his recently introduced son have the following to assume power? Or will a junta from the military assume control? Either way, look for unrest as the new government takes power, possibly more border disputes.....


That unfortunately remains the big question mark.

Kim Jong-Un is, for all intents and purposes, a pudgy baby-faced twentysomething guy who really hasn't had the decades of grooming and cult relevance given to previous generations of the Kim dynasty. So, unfortunately, I predict one of two things will happen (or both)....this new Kim will push the two Koreas into yet ANOTHER crisis by doing something rather stupid, just to show he can handle a crisis and can stand up to the "Imperialist West". Unfortunately, he is young and not too experienced, so methinks it may backfire in his face.

The other thing that might happen, as you mentioned Dragoon, is that the generals won't be too fond of this brat kid and will either isolate him or just launch a coup outright...what would happen after that, who knows.

Of course, this is all just speculation, it's rather wait and see at this point, but I wouldn't expect North Korea to suddenly start embracing Big Macs, American Idol and MTV...methinks they're too wedded to "Il Juce" to even know how to do anything else. :(

[pmulcahy11b]

You know, when Kim Il-Sung died, I was stationed in Korea. We all expecting an invasion any moment; we were on base restriction for a month, subject to a one-hour recall, and sometimes had alerts three times per day. Our vehicles were kept constantly combat-loaded at all times, with full ammunition loads and weapons issue instead of the token issue we normally got for your average exercise.

But nothing happened other than heated rhetoric. I expect much the same this time. Kim Jong-Un and his generals will mouth off roundly and regularly to let us know they're still there, there might be an increase in small-unit border incursions, a few rocket launches into the seas between Japan and Korea, but don't expect a war. Nothing to see here.

[Legbreaker]

I agree. There'll be a bit of posturing and the western diplomats will act all serious for a while to justify their existance, but all in all little will change.

[headquarters]

I heard on the radio that the NORKS had test launched a few short range missiles . It was believed to be undramatic. It was just the sort of thing PyongYang did to affirm its control and stability to its neighbours...?

If thats how you demonstrate your stability..

I hope it crumbles slowly but surely. No violent uprising - the NORK elite will slaughter millions to stay in powwer - and possibly wipe Seoul of the map.

But maybe a few years of slow grinding progress and then a sudden tilt top a more human goverment.

The Kims..they must be alien slavemasters in human disguises..jeez..

[Targan]

Funny how the Kims are among the very few pudgy North Koreans.

I think President Truman should have heeded the advice of Douglas McArthur.

[copeab]

The Kims..they must be alien slavemasters in human disguises..jeez..

I need to rewatch Team America ...

[Targan]

I need to rewatch Team America ...

... f*ck yeah!